Albania last in the region for media freedom/ Lela: The government is responsible

The director of the press office of the DP, Alfred Lela, in a press release from the blue headquarters, said that the government is to blame for the fact that Albania has dropped three positions in the ranking of press freedom in the world, remaining last in the region and among the candidate states for the European Union.

STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE PRESS AND COMMUNICATION OFFICE IN THE DP, ALFRED LELA:

Albania has dropped three positions in the ranking of press freedom in the world, remaining last in the region and among the candidate states for the European Union.

In the Press Freedom Index of 'Reporters Without Borders', which includes 180 countries, Albania ranks 99th. 75th Kosovo.

"Reporters Without Borders" assesses that the environment for freedom of the press in Albania "is difficult". According to the organization, 'In Albania, editorial independence is threatened by partisan rules. Journalists fall victim to organized crime and occasionally police violence, fueled by the government's failure to protect them'.

The Democratic Party, while thanking the 'Reporters' for their work in defense of press freedom, encourages the journalists, who have not yet surrendered to the pressure of the government, to resist.

This environment has only one responsible and it is the government with its tentacles, tenders of seduction and whip of threats.

The threat to press freedom is permanent, as evidenced by the latest attempt, still in development, to control independent media under the pretext of preventing Russian and Chinese influence.

In a country whose government treats the press no differently than Moscow and Beijing, this is absurd.

Although the report singles out some issues such as conflict of interest, interference of media owners on editorial independence, low level of long-term sustainable media development, censorship in online media and social networks, political verbal attacks against journalists, etc. , the problem of problems remains the tendency of the government and power segments to control the media space with money, lures and threats.

All these problems, which are rightly highlighted in the report, stem from this trend.

The Democratic Party expressed its unlimited support to all journalists who have been threatened by the government and gangs. Their work and courage as guardians of democracy and freedom of expression is a sign of human and professional dignity.

The Democratic Party calls on the Assembly of Albania to adopt without wasting time the Resolution presented by the democratic parliamentary group, for the protection of journalists, the punishment of their attackers and the recognition of the irreplaceable role of freedom of the press.