Threats against media outlet, Faktoje, 19.05.2026, Tirana

Translations: Tirana 

On 19 May 2026, Faktoje reported that it was targeted in a Facebook post by Albanian historian and public commentator Olsi Jazexhi. In his post, Jazexhi referred to Faktoje as a “Soros/USAID” page and suggested that the organisation would target him by portraying him as “anti-American” and “pro-Chinese.”

Jazexhi is a public commentator active in Albanian and Iranian media and on social media. BIRN/Reporter.al has previously reported that his public commentary often focuses on geopolitical issues, including  Iran, Gaza and Ukraine, and that his views are frequently critical of the West and overlap with narratives promoted by the Iranian regime. Jazexhi has denied having links with Iran or any other government.

The post uses hostile and delegitimizing language against a fact-checking media organization and frames its monitoring and reporting work as politically motivated. Such language may contribute to online pressure and smear campaigns against journalists and fact-checkers carrying out public-interest reporting. This is not the first time that Faktoje has suffered such incidents.