The SafeJournalists Network strongly condemns the reported police violence against journalists and media crews covering protests in Tirana on 13 October 2026. Physical assaults, injuries and obstruction of reporting, alongside the deployment of tear gas and water cannons, raise grave concerns about the excessive and disproportionate use of force by the State Police.

According to the Association of Journalists of Albania (AGSH) and the media outlets concerned, Izmir Akulli, editor-in-chief of Dosja.al, was reportedly beaten by several police officers while filming the use of force against a student near the Bank of Albania. Despite identifying himself as a journalist, he was allegedly subjected to further punches and kicks and required hospital treatment. Earlier, Fax News journalist Fatime Halmusa was reportedly injured by police officers, while A2 CNN journalist Anesti Bajramemaj and camera operator Henri Simota were forcibly pushed and obstructed while reporting. Journalist Xhoi Malesia of TopNews reported being threatened by police officers with an attempt to arrest him. In addition, Vjolanda Peca, a journalist with Citizens.al, was struck on the head by a stone while covering the protest, further highlighting the serious risks faced by media workers reporting from the scene.

These incidents are not isolated. Over the past four months, SafeJournalists has repeatedly documented police interference with journalists covering protests in Albania, including physical obstruction on 2 and 27 July, the detention and repeated obstruction of Citizens.al journalist Vjolanda Peca in July and September, and the exposure of identifiable media crews to crowd-control measures as recently as 8 October.

The recurrence and severity of these incidents point to a deeply troubling pattern of alleged excessive police force, interference with independent reporting and insufficient accountability. Particularly alarming are reports of violence against journalists while documenting police actions. This raises serious questions about the implementation of the State Police Protocol for the Safety of Journalists, adopted in May 2025, and the effectiveness of measures taken following previous incidents.

The SafeJournalists Network calls on:

• The Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of the State Police to publicly account for the incidents, explain the measures taken following previous warnings and ensure immediate, effective implementation of the journalists’ safety protocol, including clear operational instructions on the use of force and protection of identifiable media crews.
• The Police Oversight Agency (AMP) to promptly and independently investigate the reported assaults and obstruction, identify the officers involved and ensure that any findings of misconduct lead to appropriate accountability.
• Competent prosecution offices: Investigate whether police conduct towards journalists may constitute criminal offences and take appropriate action where there are grounds to suspect unlawful conduct.
• The Albanian Parliament, particularly its committees responsible for human rights, media and internal affairs, to exercise its oversight mandate through a parliamentary hearing on the repeated incidents, police conduct during protests and the implementation of existing safeguards for journalists.
• The Ministry of Justice, within its mandate, to assess whether existing legal and institutional safeguards provide effective protection and remedies for journalists subjected to violence or obstruction by law-enforcement authorities.

The responsibility to maintain public order cannot justify violence against journalists or the disproportionate use of force. Police operations, including the deployment of tear gas and water cannons, must comply with the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality and take account of the presence of journalists documenting events in the public interest.

Journalists must be able to document protests and police conduct without fear of violence or retaliation. When such incidents recur despite repeated warnings, institutional silence and inaction become part of the concern. Protecting journalists is essential to the public’s right to information and democratic accountability.

The SafeJournalists Network stands in solidarity with the affected journalists and will closely monitor the authorities’ response.

Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica – Tirana, 14 October 2026

Association of Journalists of Albania
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro