State Police forces have landed in the early hours of the morning near the News24 media building, demanding the release of the premises where the editorial offices of News24, BalkanWeb, Panorama and Gazeta Shqiptare are located. According to media reports, the intervention was carried out without warning and without a court decision, while the police are preventing journalists from entering the editorial offices.
Ardi Veliu is reportedly at the head of the blue uniforms, who as the head of the "KAYO" company claims that the building belongs to the weapons manufacturing company.
The Journalists' Association of Albania has reacted by calling this action a flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of democracy and freedom of expression, guaranteed by the Constitution and international human rights instruments. The organization demands the immediate cessation of the action, the guarantee of journalists' access to their work premises and the respect of democratic standards for media freedom.
In the statement, the Association calls for any conflict with private television stations to be resolved through understanding and not through the use of force, and asks local and international organizations for freedom of expression to monitor and react to the situation.
There has still been no official response from the authorities on the reasons for this action.
