Other threats to journalist Rudina Muca, 02.11.2024, Tirana

Tirana •︎ 02/11/2024

Other threats to journalist Rudina Muca, 02.11.2024, Tirana

Translations: Tirana 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Tirana
  • Who was attacked?
    Journalist
  • Gender
    Female
  • Victim(s) name
    Rudina Muca

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    Top Channel
  • Type of media platform
    Radio
  • Source of information about the incident
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK3DJmpXAQ0

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    02.11.2024
  • City
    Tirana
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Attacked by
    By public official(s) and/or representative(s) of the executive power
  • Means of incidents and attacks
    Other means of incidents and attacks
  • Type of incident
    Other threats to journalists
  • Type of threat
    Other

  • Action by the authorities

  • Action taken by the journalists' association

  • Was journalist's association informed by the journalists directly?
    Yes
  • What was the reaction of the journalists' association?
    The association reacted publicly

On November 2, 2024, Rudina Muca, a journalist with Top Channel specializing in food safety and agriculture, reported an incident of alleged intimidation and retaliation from Anila Denaj, the Albanian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. The suspected intimidation followed Muca’s investigative reporting on the Ministry’s failure to administer a brucellosis vaccine, a project costing €1.7 million, and a critical issue impacting public health and agriculture. Other reporting raises the issue of the brucellosis in Albania with 29 people confirmed as infected as of October 2024. 

According to Muca, following the publication of her report in several news segments on Top Channel in October 2024, Minister Denaj reacted by targeting Muca’s sister, Silvana, who works as a specialist within an agency subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Muca claims that Denaj pressured her sister to resign publicly in a large staff meeting, suggesting that Muca’s journalistic work was unwelcome and that her family could face consequences.

Muca’s declaration emphasizes that she and her sister maintain independent professional roles without influence on each other’s work. However, she alleges that Denaj has used her position to threaten her sister’s job security to pressuring Muca to halt her critical reporting.

This incident highlights concerns about journalistic freedom and potential retaliation against reporters who investigate government activities. It underscores the need for robust safeguards to protect journalists and uphold transparency in public institutions.

SJN Albania has sent a request for comment and information to the Ministry asking if the Minister has exerted undue influence on Muca’s family or engaged in actions intended to intimidate the journalist.

**

Official Response from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Question: Can the Ministry confirm whether there has been any statement or action from the Minister or other Ministry officials related to the family members of Ms. Muca due to her reporting?

Response: “In no case, and specifically regarding the case in question that you are inquiring about, has the Ministry or any other Ministry officials made any statement regarding the family members of Ms. Muca due to her reporting. The Ministry is an institution of the state administration that adheres to and operates rigorously following the principles that guarantee legality, transparency, and the protection of the legal rights of its employees. Ms. Muca is a specialist in the reporting and coordination sector at AKVMB, and coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for communication with the media is the responsibility of the Director General, and this has been communicated verbally.”

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