We, the SafeJournalists Network, partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Albanian media freedom organizations, express our shared concern over the police crackdown and subsequent events affecting Focus Media Group: News24, BalkanWeb, Panorama, Gazeta Shqiptare and other affiliated media outlets.
In the early hours of August 9, the State Police surrounded the building in Tirana where these media outlets operate, cut off the electricity supply and prevented access for journalists and staff. This stopped News24’s live television broadcast. According to Focus Media Group, no prior warning was given for the effective interruption of the broadcast signal.
The police action stems from a wider property dispute between the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation (MEKI) and Focus Media Group over rents and procedures. However, the strong police intervention has so far apparently been carried out on unclear legal grounds and without due process. In the absence of a published legal basis, court decisions and enforcement orders, or a clear timeline and steps for the continuation of the process, the legality and proportionality of the action are seriously questioned.
As a result, since August 9, one of Albania’s leading national news broadcasters, News24, has been off the air. As of August 12, 2025, there is still no clarity on when broadcasting will resume, nor on the future of Focus Media Group’s journalists, media workers and support staff. This uncertainty undermines public trust, weakens pluralism and risks creating a chilling effect on media freedom.
The impact on media workers is immediate and serious. Around 230 employees, journalists, media workers and support staff now face the risk of unemployment, while many of them have been experiencing delays in salary payments and non-payment of social security and health contributions for some time. With the building blocked and activity disrupted, their livelihoods and professional futures are at risk.
Therefore, we jointly call on the Albanian authorities to guarantee journalists' right to work, their safety, and:
provide a full and public explanation of the legal basis, necessity and urgency of the operation undertaken in the early hours of Saturday, 9 August 2025, including the timing, methods used, proportionality and whether less restrictive alternatives were considered;
lift the police cordon, restore electricity supply and allow free and unhindered access to the newsroom and reporting locations, without intimidation or interference;
protect journalistic materials and infrastructure, refraining from any seizure or damage and ensuring safe access to equipment, archives and transmission links;
protect labour rights during the disruption, by cooperating with the Labour Inspectorate to ensure that wages and social contributions are paid and temporary accommodation and measures for work continuity are provided;
provide effective legal guarantees by publishing the legal basis and orders, setting the deadline and conditions for lifting the measures, ensuring an accessible opportunity for appeal with suspensive effect where applicable, and cooperating with the AMA using the least restrictive means to preserve the continuity of the news service;
investigate any obstacles to journalists and ensure accountability and regular communication with the public.
In the meantime, we call on the owners and managers of Focus Media Group:
act urgently to protect the livelihoods and rights of employees, fulfil all legal and contractual obligations, and provide temporary accommodation and continuity plans to protect staff and maintain public access to information;
engage constructively with the authorities to resolve the dispute in a legal and transparent manner, with as little disruption as possible to journalistic work and the public’s right to be informed;
ensure the payment of salaries and social contributions, secure access to equipment and data, and refrain from taking retaliatory measures against staff during this disruption;
provide full transparency on the legal and contractual situation, so that employees and the public understand the basis of the dispute.
This is not simply a contractual dispute. This situation raises fundamental issues regarding due process, proportionality, media freedom and the protection of journalists and media workers. All parties must act quickly, transparently, and in the public interest to ensure that these rights are respected and protected.
Signed,
SafeJournalists Network
Association of Journalists of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
Association of Journalists of Croatia
Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia
Media Union of Montenegro
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) Partners
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
ARTICLE 19 Europe
International Press Institute (IPI)
Free Press Without Borders (FPU)
Civil society organizations in Albania:
Center for Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV)
Albanian Media Council (KSHM)
Association of Journalists of Albania (AGSH)
Albanian Woman in Audiovisual (AWA)
Amfora
Association of Professional Journalists of Albania (APJA)
Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SGPM)
Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC)
Albanian Center for Quality Journalism (ACQJ)
Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Albania (BIRN Albania)
Faktoje
Union of Albanian Journalists (UGSH)
Association of European Journalists, Albanian Section
Citizens Channel Center
Respublica Center
