We, the undersigned, express our disappointment with the decision of the ruling party, Vetëvendosje Movement, regarding the selection of board members for the Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) and the Independent Media Commission (IMC), in a process that has been openly documented as compromised.
Candidates for the governing bodies of these institutions were selected through rushed, non-transparent procedures marked by irregularities, which undermined the principle of merit-based selection. The process failed for several reasons: the insistence by Vetëvendosje Members of Parliament to conclude the process within a short timeframe; insufficient time allocated; disorganized proceedings due to time pressure; unequal treatment of candidates; unclear and non-transparent evaluation methodology—particularly the decision not to score candidates after each interview; and political favoritism toward certain candidates.
Of particular concern is the appointment to the IMC of Besnik Berisha, who, during his previous mandate in the same institution, reportedly violated the law in an attempt to advance to the position of board chair, and Luljeta Aliu Krasniqi, who has publicly praised and supported the ruling party and is widely known as a government supporter.
Members of both boards will operate under the shadow of mandates obtained through compromised processes. We will closely monitor the work of both boards and keep the public informed about their actions.
Assessment of the selection process for the RTK Board
Assessment of the selection process for the IMC Board
Signed,
Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK)
Lëvizja FOL
Kosovo Law Institute (KLI)
Flutura Kusari, Media Law Expert