The Albanian Public Broadcaster (RTSH) is experiencing a severe financial crisis, as officially confirmed by its newly appointed General Director, Eni Vasili. In response, Vasili has formally requested emergency financial assistance amounting to €2 million from the Ministry of Finance for 2025. She highlighted the necessity of immediate support to sustain essential technical operations, artistic projects, and emergency management.
According to RTSH’s internal assessment, the broadcaster’s financial distress stems primarily from past mismanagement and alleged abuses totaling approximately €8 million. These losses include:
- Over €730,000 related to unlawful dismissals of employees as of May 31, 2025, with potential liabilities from ongoing court cases possibly reaching up to €4 million. The SafeJournalists Network has raised concerns about this issue over the past years.
- Additional losses of €4 million resulting from non-transparent and unauthorized expenditures linked to contracts for television broadcasting rights.
To address this crisis transparently, Vasili has initiated a comprehensive external audit to investigate the extent of financial mismanagement and to ensure accountability. RTSH has committed to fully cooperating with judicial authorities if necessary.
The SafeJournalists Network (SJN) will continue to monitor developments closely and advocate for reforms that strengthen RTSH’s financial accountability, editorial independence, and operational sustainability.