Kosovo: Prime Minister’s Bodyguards Assault TV Klan’s Blerta Dalloshi-Berisha
Guards push journalist, grabbing her microphone and injuring her hand
Location: Kosovo, Fushe Kosove
Date: December 28, 2023
In an incident caught on camera, the bodyguards of Kosovo’s leader Albin Kurti physically obstructed veteran TV Klan reporter Blerta Dalloshi-Berisha. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom voices concern for media personnel attacked while trying to report. The Kosovo government must denounce any and all assaults against the press and investigate the aggression shown toward Dalloshi-Berisha immediately.
On December 28, 2023, journalist Blerta Dalloshi-Berisha from TV Klan was forcefully prevented from reporting by the security team of Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The assault occurred as she attempted to pose a question to the country’s top politician.
The journalist took to Facebook to share her experience, describing the event as a "shame." Dalloshi-Berisha revealed that her right hand still hurts because of the force used by the Prime Minister's bodyguards. The incident escalated to the point where the microphone was forcefully taken away, causing an interruption of filming.
Blerta Dalloshi-Berisha, who has been a journalist for 22 years, expressed her dismay at the attack, stating that she has covered and interacted with various governments and prime ministers without facing such aggression.
The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) issued a statement condemning the behavior of Prime Minister Kurti's close defense team towards the reporter. The AJK called the mistreatment of journalists "completely unacceptable" and highlighted the growing sense of insecurity within Kosovo's media community.
This is not the first time Kurti’s government has clashed with the media outlet TV Klan. In an unprecedented and shocking decision in June 2023, the government attempted to strip the channel of its business license. The attempt to disrupt the network’s broadcasting was later thwarted by the courts.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with Blerta Dalloshi-Berisha and calls on the Kosovo Police to conduct an investigation into the actions of those involved. We also urge Prime Minister Kurti to denounce this aggressive behavior toward the press and ensure an environment where journalists can freely ask questions that serve the public interest.
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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