Period: 13–24 October 2026
This documentation covers cases of physical violence, threats, obstruction of reporting, damage to equipment, and verbal attacks against journalists and media outlets reported to the Association of Journalists of Albania (AGSH).
13 OCTOBER 2026
1. Anesti Bajramemaj – A2 CNN – Reported violence by the Albanian State Police while covering the protest.
2. Heri Simota – A2 CNN – Reported violence by the Albanian State Police in the same incident involving journalist Anesti Bajramemaj.
3. Fatime Halmusaj – Media outlet unspecified – Struck and injured in the leg by a smoke-producing device launched by police.
4. Izmir Akulli – Dosja.al – Reportedly subjected to physical violence by State Police officers while documenting police intervention against protesters.
5. Xhoi Malësia – Top News – Threatened by a police officer wielding a tear gas launcher.
14 OCTOBER 2026
6. Enkelejda Mema – Euronews Albania – Prevented by the State Police from filming and carrying out her professional duties.
7. Alice Taylor – Euronews Albania – A police officer seized her phone while she was documenting the protest. The phone was returned several minutes later.
8. Elvin Kamberi – News24 – Injured by a noise-producing device thrown by police towards camera operators and photojournalists.
9. Bekim Biçi – Ora News – Prevented from filming and reporting by State Police officers.
10. Camera crew – Report TV – Attacked by masked protesters, who also vandalised the crew’s camera.
15 OCTOBER 2026
11. Doriana Bezat – Top Channel – Reportedly physically assaulted by protesters while carrying out her professional duties.
12. Jonida Mukja – Piranjat – Obstructed by the State Police while reporting.
13. Albi Muçollari – Piranjat – Forcibly taken away by State Police officers while documenting police interventions.
14. Felix Bilani – SYRI TV – Obstructed by plainclothes individuals suspected of being police officers while filming the detention of minors.
16 OCTOBER 2026
15. Elkier Bushkolaj – SYRI TV – Obstructed by the State Police while reporting live near the Pyramid in Tirana.
17 OCTOBER 2026
16. Eksiola Shehu – Euronews Albania – Physically pulled by police officers, who also attempted to seize her phone while she was documenting the protest.
17. Journalists from various media outlets – Prevented from reporting by masked, unidentified individuals in the presence of the General Director of the Albanian State Police.
18. Unnamed journalist – Reuters – Struck by a rubber bullet while covering the protest in Tirana.
19. Unnamed journalist – Reuters – Struck by a rubber bullet while covering the protest in Tirana.
20. Raimond Lueppken – Independent Swiss photojournalist – Pressured by two plainclothes individuals to delete footage he had recorded in Durrës. The individuals’ affiliations have not been confirmed.
18 OCTOBER 2026
21. Hameraldi Agolli – Photojournalist, media outlet unspecified – Reportedly forcibly detained by the State Police while carrying out his professional duties.
22. Osman Stafa – News24 – Obstructed by the State Police while carrying out his professional duties.
23. Taulant Koplikaj – Media outlet unspecified – Reportedly physically assaulted by State Police officers.
24. Renaldo Salianji – News24 – Reportedly subjected to physical violence and verbal abuse by a police officer.
25. Glidona Daci – Klan News – Struck by stones reportedly thrown by police officers.
26. Elira Kadriu– Citizens.al – Struck by stones thrown by a protester while covering the demonstration.
27. Elkier Bushkolaj – SYRI TV – Struck by a rubber bullet fired by the State Police, sustaining a leg injury.
28. Marshi Korreshi – SYRI TV – Struck with a police helmet and forcibly pushed by police officers.
29. Juljan Hoxha – SYRI TV – Reportedly subjected to physical violence by officers of the State Police’s “Shqiponja” (Eagles) unit.
30. Felix Bilani – SYRI TV – Reportedly subjected to physical violence by officers of the State Police’s “Shqiponja” (Eagles) unit.
31. Edi Rama – Prime Minister of Albania / News24 – Public statements targeting News24 television, criticised by AGSH as a verbal attack and denigrating rhetoric. The Prime Minister accused the broadcaster of tax evasion involving millions of euros, alleged that it enjoyed immunity from prosecution by the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, and claimed that it was working to bring down the government. He also referred to allegations of unpaid social security contributions and delayed salary payments to employees.
32. Eno Bozdo – Democratic Party MP / Esido Barkaj, Vizion Plus – Used insulting and derogatory language towards the journalist during a press conference while the journalist was asking him a question. AGSH condemned the MP’s conduct and called for a public apology.
19 OCTOBER 2026
33. Armand Bajrami – A2 CNN – Struck by a rubber bullet fired by the State Police during a live broadcast.
34. Gazment Seiti – KlikNews.al – Struck by a rubber bullet fired by the State Police while covering the protest.
35. Endri Cuka – Media outlet to be verified – Incident reported involving the State Police; the exact circumstances remain to be clarified.
36. Hamza Jaupi – Media outlet to be verified – Struck with a baton and sprayed with a chemical irritant by State Police officers.
37. Sergei Senka – Media outlet to be verified – Sprayed with a chemical irritant by State Police officers.
38. Editon Vatikani – Ora News – Slapped by a State Police officer while carrying out his professional duties.
39. Kristi Gongo – Top Channel – Verbally threatened by a police officer while filming a police operation.
20 OCTOBER 2026
40. Fatjon Nurçellari – A2 CNN – The camera crew was attacked by two protesters while covering the demonstration in Tirana.
41. Edi Rama – Prime Minister of Albania / Albanian media outlets – Public statements criticised by AGSH as stigmatising rhetoric against the media, made during a meeting with secondary school principals in Tirana.
21 OCTOBER 2026
42. Sali Berisha – Chairman of the Democratic Party / Top Channel, Report TV and other media outlets – Verbal attacks and the use of derogatory language against media executives and representatives, condemned by AGSH.
22 OCTOBER 2026
Unidentified Greek journalist / Physically attacked with stones thrown by protesters.
24 OCTOBER 2026
Klevi Muka – News24 / Sustained burns to his body from water sprayed by the police.
Ardit Hoxha – Euronews Albania / Hit by a rubber bullet fired by the State Police.
Freard Rista – Piranjat / Physically attacked with stones thrown by protesters.
Klan News crew – Journalist Glidona Daci and camera operator Jurgen Lapaj / Deliberately targeted by police officers with pepper spray at close range.
Photojournalist M.M., a U.S. citizen / Taken to Police Station No. 2 without justification.
Osman Stafa – News24 / Subjected to verbal abuse by State Police officers.
Armand Kullau – News24 / Deliberately targeted with pepper spray by police officers at close range.