Actual attack against journalist Fatjon Gjinaj, 02.07.2026, Tirana

Translations: Tirana 

On 2 July 2026, during the protest near the Albanian Parliament in Tirana, SYRI TV journalist Fatjon Gjinaj was reportedly hit during a police intervention while covering the events from the scene. According to the media report and video footage published by SYRI TV, police used force to disperse protesters, and the journalist was affected while performing his professional duties. The incident occurred in a highly tense environment, where police intervention, physical confrontation, and dispersal measures created direct risks for media workers on the ground.

Context: On 2 July 2026, the 33rd consecutive day of the civic protest in Tirana, demonstrators gathered outside the Albanian Parliament during a plenary session as part of the wider protest movement that began over the planned development in the Zvërnec/Narta protected coastal area and later expanded into broader anti-government and anti-corruption demands. The protest escalated into confrontations between protesters and police: protesters threw eggs, flour and other objects at police officers and some lawmakers, attempted to remove barriers, and police responded with dispersal measures including tear gas, pepper spray and water cannon. The tense and polarised environment created direct safety risks for journalists and media workers reporting from the scene.