The Albanian Journalists’ Association (AGSH) has addressed the International Community through a letter concerning the unprecedented attack on News24 by the State Police.
Since the morning of August 9, 2025, the country’s largest news television station has been off the air after the police, in cooperation with KAYO employees led by Ardi Veliu, cut the transmission equipment and forced journalists out. Currently, the News24 building remains surrounded by dozens of police forces, and journalists are not allowed to enter their workplace.
AGSH considers this action a dangerous precedent against the media and freedom of expression in Albania.
Considering Albania’s status as an EU membership aspirant, AGSH emphasizes the urgent need to uphold the rule of law by demanding:
- The immediate removal of the blockade and full restoration of journalists’ access to their workplace;
- The restoration of electrical power and full working conditions for the newsrooms;
- The immediate publication of the legal basis and authority that ordered this action;
- Assurance that any future measures affecting the media will be carried out only in accordance with regular legal procedures, under judicial supervision, and following the principle of minimal intervention.
“We call on all international institutions, media organizations, and diplomatic missions to closely monitor the situation and respond to ensure that Albania remains committed to international standards of freedom of expression and media.”
“Any attack on journalists is an attack on democracy, public interest, and fundamental human rights,” reads the letter from AGSH.
The Letter
Dear colleagues,
The Albanian Journalists’ Association expresses its deepest concern over the events of the early hours of August 9, 2025, when State Police forces surrounded the Focus Media Group building in Tirana, which houses four major media outlets: News24, BalkanWeb, Panorama, and Gazeta Shqiptare.
On behalf of AGSH, we wish to underline that such actions severely undermine media freedom and create fear and insecurity for all media in the country going forward. This is not the first time police have acted arbitrarily. In the past decade, two other media outlets—AgonChannel and RTV Ora—were shut down despite court rulings, with the presence of police special forces inside television premises condemned by the entire international community.
According to official statements from the media group, during the operation:
- Electricity was cut, leaving News24 without a broadcast signal;
- Journalists and staff were barred from entering the newsroom;
- Newsroom work was suspended, and public access to media content was interrupted.
While we recognize that the property is subject to a dispute between News24’s owners and the Albanian state, we believe this does not legitimize police presence nor the unilateral interruption of the broadcast signal.
Additionally, public information indicates that other businesses owned by the media group’s leadership have previously faced questionable actions, including a bombing of a complex with explosives, which the TV executives described at the time as a political attack.
This precedent poses a serious threat to media freedom and fosters an atmosphere of fear among journalists and the public. We emphasize that regardless of editorial positions or internal matters of any media, such attacks on the normal functioning of newsrooms undermine the foundations of democracy and the public’s right to be informed.
Dear colleagues,
Given Albania’s aspirations to join the European Union, we believe it is imperative to uphold the rule of law and we demand:
- Immediate removal of the blockade and full restoration of journalists’ access to their workplace;
- Restoration of electricity and full working conditions for newsrooms;
- Immediate publication of the legal basis and authority ordering this action;
- Guarantee that any future actions involving the media are conducted strictly in accordance with legal procedures, under judicial oversight, and respecting the principle of minimal intervention.
We call on all international institutions, media organizations, and diplomatic representations to closely monitor the situation and react to ensure Albania remains committed to international standards of freedom of expression and media.
Any attack on journalists is an attack on democracy, the public interest, and fundamental human rights.
Isa Myzyraj
Chairman of AGSH
