PRISTINA, 16. 12. 2019 – The Association of Journalists of Kosovo joins the call of Albanian journalists, media, media organizations, civil society and international organizations, which demand by the Albanian government to withdraw the anti-defamation legislation proposed to the Assembly.
By approving amendments of the Law on Audiovisual Media, and the Law on Electronic Communication, the Albanian Media Authority (AMA) as well as the Postal and Electronic Communications Authority (AKEP) will be competent to ban immediately the media websites, imposing unaffordable punishments for journalists and other hard penalties until closing them.
Even OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir warned that “such fines could lead to media closure and be seen as indirect pressure.”
The European Federation of Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists have joined the call to withdrawal the legislative proposals that threaten freedom of expression and media freedom. According to them, the proposals are not in line with the best standards of self-regulation, which would have a negative impact on freedom of expression in Albania.
The AJK estimates that this legislation directly censors online media and seriously endanger freedom of expression. The freedom of speech in democratic nations is regulating by the ethic codes and self-regulatory bodies of the media.