The Association of European Journalists (AEJ) has condemned the Albanian government’s order to shut down television channel Ora.
On May 14, Albania’s National Health Inspectorate (IShSh) demanded the shutdown of Ora Radio and Television (Ora RTV) due to their alleged violation of government instructions allowing only one guest in TV shows.
AEJ protested the order to shut down the private television channel and deemed it discriminatory, seeing as pro-government media saw no action taken against them though social distancing measures employed by them are similar to those of Ora.
The Association has urged European institutions, like the EU and OSCE, to speak out against “these arbitrary and excessive penalties targeting one of Albania’s leading independent and critical media outlets.”
