Incidents involving journalists during protests, UGSH calls for accountability and punishment

Obstruction of reporting, threats and damage to journalists’ equipment during protests in recent days in Tirana and Gjirokastër have been condemned by the Union of Albanian Journalists (UGSH).

In a statement published on Saturday, the organization said it had received complaints and reports from journalists and media workers over the previous 24 hours concerning incidents involving protesters and police officers.

One of the reported cases occurred in Gjirokastër, where a protester damaged the phone journalist Piro Nase was using to report. At the time, Nase was covering the protest and tensions near the police station.

UGSH issued a special condemnation of the case involving journalist Elkier Bushkolaj, who was obstructed by police officers near the Pyramid in Tirana on the fourth day of the protests.

Expressing solidarity with its branches in Gjirokastër, Berat and Tirana, the Union called on police officers to act more responsibly toward journalists while they are carrying out their duties.

The organization called for officers who obstruct or assault journalists to be punished, as well as those who fail to act when reporters face threats from protesters or other aggressive individuals.

According to UGSH, journalists must be guaranteed the opportunity to report without obstruction and without their physical integrity being put at risk.