Other threats against journalist, Berat Buzhala, Prishtinë, 12.07.2023

Translations: Pristina 

• Case info

• Personal info

• Regional center

  Pristina
• Gender

  Male
• Victim(s) name

  Berat Buzhala

• Media outlet

• Name of the media outlet

  Nacionale
• Type of media platform

  Online Media
  
• Source of information about the incident

  Facebook

• Incident Data

• Date of incident

  12.07.2023
• City

  Prishtine
• Perpetrator(s)

  Known (suspected)
• Attacked by

  Authorities - individuals
  
• Type of incident

  Other threats to journalists

• Action by the authorities

• Action taken by the journalists' association

• Was journalist's association informed by the journalists directly?

  Yes

The MP of Vetëvendosje, Mefail Bajqinovci, has recently made public an internal document of the Tax Administration of Kosovo. The document pertains to the journalist and owner of the “Nacionale” portal, Berat Buzhala, and alleges that he has evaded taxes amounting to 71 thousand Euros.

Buzhala has published a decision of the Commercial Court of Kosovo to postpone the execution of the decision until the resolution of this commercial-administrative dispute with a final court decision.

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo finds it very disturbing that a document of TAK, which functions within the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Kosovo, is in possession of and has been published by a member of the Assembly of Kosovo.

AJK sees this as direct pressure intended to intimidate and retaliate against Buzhala and Nacionale following the release of audio recordings of Mrs. Mimoza Kusari Lila, Head of the Parliamentary Group of the Vetëvendosje Movement, and former Lista Srpska deputy Slavko Simic.