Country policy and information note: actors of protection, Albania, December 2021 (accessible)
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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
Albanian police detain and assault journalists documenting police violence
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Journalists report on the scene while riot police take measures on the fifth day of protests over a police shooting, in Tirana, Albania, 13 December 2020, Olsi Shehu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images IPI: “Journalists have a right to document the actions of the police as a matter of public interest, and these detentions are a violation of the public’s right to know. Authorities must also immediately investigate reports of journalists being assaulted by police, including while in custody.”
This statement was originally published on ipi.media on 15 December 2020.
Authorities in Albania must open an investigation into a recent string of unjustified detentions of journalists and immediately respond to allegations of reporters being assaulted by police whilst in custody, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today.