Albania: Prime Minister Snubs Journalist Ambrioza Meta, Denies Rise In Press Freedom Violations

Location: Albania, Tirana
Date: May 9, 2022

Prime Minister Edi Rama snubbed Syri.net TV’s Ambrioza Meta when she questioned him on the country’s drop by 20 points on the World Press Freedom Index. Rama, under whose tenure Albania fell down to 103rd on the Reporters Without Borders global press freedom index, has denied the rise in violations against journalists. Instead, he has termed it a “lie” and denounced it as “fantasy”. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the premier’s hostile attitude towards the press and blatant disregard for the surge in violations against journalists in the country. We call on the authorities to uphold the rights of the independent press and ensure that it is allowed to function freely in a safe environment.

On May 3, World Press Freedom Day 2022, international media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders released its annual index of press freedom status around the world. This year, Albania dropped 20 places, down to 103rd out of 180 countries. The report pointed to lack of journalists’ safety, increase in political pressures to suppress independent reportage and the use of the law to silence the media with various tactics such as legal harassment and oppressive legislation.

Instead of working towards redressal of press freedom violations in the country, Rama denounced the RSF report as a “lie” and “fantasy”. “There is no intimidation of the media, no court cases against journalists, no anti-defamation package, no police violence, no political attacks,” he wrote on Twitter. The prime minister added that there was no such thing as ethical self-regulation in the media.

Gazetarët viktima të dhunës policore në Shqipëri?Çfarë gënjeshtre!Gazetarët kritikë ndaj qeverisë përballen me sulme politike?Çfarë fantazie! Vetërregullim etik në median shqiptare?Çfarë talljeje!Vetëm titulli mungon:Ankesa për mungesën e lirisë ngaqë s'dimë ç'të bëjmë me lirinë!

— Edi Rama (@ediramaal) May 3, 2022

Rama insisted that there were no violations against the press in the country. “Journalists victims of police violence in Albania? What a lie! Journalists critical of the government facing political attacks? What a fantasy! Ethical self-regulation in the Albanian media? What a mockery! Only the title is missing: We complain about the lack of freedom because we do not know what to do with freedom!” 

According to the CFWIJ’s own data, and as reported by local media, it is evident that press freedom violations have indeed increased in the country. The past year has seen several documented cases of physical attacks against journalists, many by the police themselves. Moreover, smear campaigns and public vitriol against critical journalists have become commonplace as have legal harassment cases with as many 35 filed by Rama’s own political party between 2018 and 2020. 

Since 2017, Rama himself has used derogatory and crass remarks against journalists on multiple occasions and propagated hate towards the press. 

But when Ambrozia questioned the prime minister on the country’s abysmal drop on the World Press Freedom Index 2022, Rama insulted her and said she needed to be “reeducated”. 

This isn’t the first time Ambrozia has been snubbed by the prime minister for pressing on critical issues. On March 30, 2020, Rama announced that he has placed an embargo on Ambrioza for  60 days. The journalist was subjected to an arbitrary information embargo for asking a question about the arrest of the ruling Socialist Party’s minister on corruption allegations. 

Local journalists have also highlighted a decrease in press freedom in the country. “Reporters working for independent media are regularly discriminated against when seeking information or comment from ministers.” noted local journalists’ group Safe Journalists Albania in a recent statement. “Those who seek comments from officials in person sometimes face hostility and obstruction.” 

Commenting on the issue, CFWIJ’s Associate Partner in Europe Alice Taylor said that media freedom is certainly deteriorating in the country. “I fear media freedom in Albania is now a lost cause under this government or that of other political forces. Instead of working towards EU standards, we continue taking steps back towards authoritarianism and journalists continue to work in fear.” 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism extends support to Ambrioza Meta and all women journalists striving to ensure independent reporting in the country. We denounce the arbitrary embargo placed on Ambrioza and underscore that such steps cast a shadow over the prime minister’s claims of press freedom in the country. We call on the Albanian authorities to end hostility towards journalists and take active measures to ensure that the independent press can operate in the country freely without fear of government retaliation.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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