Albanian police have yet again come under fire for assaulting journalists while they are trying to conduct their work, this time during recent protests over increases in the cost of living.
In recent years, the list of incidents where police have assaulted journalists or obstructed them from doing their work has grown. This is in addition to continued reports of police violence against citizens and peaceful protestors.
Several media reported that their journalists were assaulted during recent protests in Albanian cities.
A cameraman for Syri.tv reported being hit by whom he assumed was a plain-clothed policeman while filming a protest in Durres. Plain clothed officers have been present throughout the demonstrations, apprehending those taking part, including activists, women, and a disabled person.
A female journalist in Tirana ended up in the emergency department of the state hospital after being pushed and stamped on by police officers.
The police have not reacted or apologised for the behaviour of their officers.
Yesterday afternoon, the Albanian Media Council issued an alert and called on police to “pay maximum attention to every journalist and camera person at protests.” They noted that journalists play an essential role in reporting at protests, and “any episode of violence will be reported to the highest European and international institutions.
“We should not wait for journalists to be killed, to react.”
Reporters Without Borders also reacted to the reports and called for swift identification and sanctions against the officers.
#Albania:RSF condemns the police violence that targeted 2 clearly identified journalists Syri TV’s cameraman Armir Sadiku & @JoqAlbania’s reporter Nertila Zef Haxhia during demonstrations against rising prices in #Tirana.The police officers must be identified & sanctioned swiftly pic.twitter.com/IMtus7FaWJ
— RSF (@RSF_inter) March 15, 2022
