On Thursday, the majority in Kosovo’s parliament dismissed all members of the public broadcaster RTK.
The 8 board members – Sali Bashota, Agron Gashi, Lirim Geci, Ilir Bytyqi, Albinot Maloku, Bajram Mjeku, Petrit Musolli, and Fadil Miftari – were dismissed following a parliamentary vote against RTK’s annual report.
MP Armend Muja of the ruling Vetevendosje party argued that the board has not allowed for a financial auditing of the institution. He added that since 2015 they have failed to propose to the parliament alternative ways to fund the institution, while debts have accumulated to nearly €4.5 million.
The opposition denounced the dismissals as violations of the law and accused the majority of attempting to take the public broadcaster under its political control.
In a press release, the RTK Board called the move political, unlawful, and a violation of media freedom. They called on domestic and international media organizations to come to their defense.
