The International Press Institute has condemned the Albanian government for the violent arrest and detention of Politiko.al editor Alfred Lela during the protest following the demolition of the National Theatre.
IPI condemns the detention #Albanian editor Alfred Lela of @PolitikoAl during a protest in the capital #Tirana yesterday morning.
Police used disproportionate force while arresting the journalist and should apologize. @MediaFreedomEU #MediaFreedomRR
https://t.co/RsDxaTB08Q— IPI (@globalfreemedia) May 18, 2020
Lela is a well-known television personality. He was at the protest in his capacity as a journalist at the time.
After the release, he stated that he had tried to peacefully mediate between police and protesters after the violent treatment of a woman by officers.
Video footage shows the ensuing violent attack and handcuffing by uniformed police and civilians in plain clothes. He was then taken to a police station by special forces.
The journalist was kept in detention for about two hours, and said he was assaulted and insulted by police.
The Albanian Media Council strongly condemned the “disproportionate violence” used by police and called for a public apology. The Union of Albanian Journalists also condemned the arrest.
