Actual attacks against journalist Freard Rista and filming crew, Vlore, 18.06.2024

Tirana •︎ 18/06/2024

Actual attacks against journalist Freard Rista and filming crew, Vlore, 18.06.2024

Translations: Tirana 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Tirana
  • Gender
    Male
  • Victim(s) name
    Freard Rista

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    Piranjat TV
  • Source of information about the incident
    Association of Albanian Journalists

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    18.06.2024
  • City
    Vlore
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Attacked by
    (ordinary) citizens
  • Type of incident
    Actual attacks on journalists

  • Action by the authorities

  • Court action
    The Vlora Police Station referred the materials to the Prosecutor's Office, for the citizen D. Ç., after the citizen F. R., 29 years old (journalist of the investigative show "Piranjat"), reported that on 18.06.2024, in the premises of a private entity, the administrator of the subject, citizen D. Ç., physically hit him and damaged the filming equipment.

  • Action taken by the journalists' association

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

On June 18, 2024, the investigative team of the show “Piranjat” traveled to Vlora following a complaint from Ms. Sabihe Likaj about illegal dumping by “Serena Furniture,” owned by Mr. Dorisen Çepaj. Upon arrival, Mr. Çepaj initially locked the crew out but later confronted them aggressively, using abusive language, attempting to snatch journalist Freard Rista’s microphone, and hitting him. He forcibly ejected Rista, smashed the cameraman’s equipment, and fled with the damaged camera. Rista pursued him, leading to Mr. Çepaj throwing stones at him, removing the memory card from the camera, and further damaging it. After these events, Rista filed a formal complaint at the police station. The Association of Albanian Journalists informed Safe Journalists Network about the case.

Updates: `The Vlora Police Station referred the materials to the Prosecutor’s Office, for citizen D. Ç., after citizen F. R., 29 years old (journalist of the investigative show “Piranjat”), reported that on 18.06.2024, on the premises of a private entity, the administrator of the subject, citizen D. Ç., physically hit him and damaged the filming equipment`.