Other threats to journalists, Tirana, Elbasan, 21.06.2024

Translations: Tirana 

On June 21, during the elections for rectorates and deans in public universities in Albania, journalists faced significant obstacles at the University of Tirana, the largest public university in the country. Journalists were barred from reporting and observing the election process, which is crucial for public transparency.

They were informed that approval was required to film inside the institution. Still, this notification was only issued on the day of the elections, after the process had already commenced, making accreditation impossible. This incident raises concerns about the transparency of the election process. The Safe Journalist Network was informed about these issues by the Association of Albanian Journalists. One case reported was by Kristi Gongo, a reporter from Top Channel TV.

Also, journalists from Elbasan reported to the SafeJournalists Network that they were not allowed to cover the process at the Aleksander Xhuvani University in Elbasan. According to the journalists, the Electoral Commission of the University has a decision that prohibits access to the media and coverage of the election process. This restriction prevented the journalists and other media representatives from carrying out their duty and the transparent election coverage process.

Another journalist from Klan TV reported anonymously that he was prevented from filming the election process.