Instagram accounts of 23 people shut down after posting protest activities

As the citizens’ protest entered its 96th day today, a wave of attacks on Instagram targeted several accounts that cover and post content about the protest.

A total of 23 accounts have been shut down, including those of Opportunity Party leader Agron Shehaj and IT expert Gent Progni.

Shehaj was the first to announce that his Instagram account had been shut down. Meanwhile, Marjana Koçeku, now an independent MP after leaving the Socialist Party, said that 200 accounts had been closed.

“A wave of online attacks began, particularly yesterday, against several opposition figures with political and public influence. More than 200 Instagram pages featuring content from the protests have been shut down, including the official page of MP Agron Shehaj, activist Gent Progni and well-known Instagram pages that have consistently supported the protest.

In recent days at the Bled Forum, online safety and cyberattacks on freedom of expression were the main focus of discussions among European Commissioners. At international forums, our government staunchly defends this right, but at home it tries to undermine it at any cost and by any means. I have therefore already reported this to the institutions of the European Union,” she wrote.