IFJ
16 December 2020
Albania: Police attack and arrest journalists covering protests
Four journalists were arrested on 11 December and 12 December while covering protests against the murder of Klodjan Rasha, a 25 years-old Albanian citizen, in Tirana. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its affiliate, the Association of Professional Journalists of Albania (APJA) strongly condemn the harassment and arbitrary arrest of media workers who are reporting on a public event.
Protesters clash with police during a demonstration in Tirana's center on December 11, 2020. Credit: Gent Shkullaku / AFP
The protests began on 9 December after a police officer shot and killed 25 years-old citizen, Klodjan Rasha, who refused to stop when he was spotted outside his home during the Covid-19 curfew, according to media reports. Due to the pandemic, Albania's government has banned street protests across the country, but that order was ignored after Rasha's death.