Employees of Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) took to the streets again on Thursday to protest over delayed salary payments, calling on state institutions to take urgent action to resolve what they described as a worsening financial and moral crisis at the public broadcaster.
Protesters held banners reading “RTK workers are not victims of crisis,” “Journalist without pay = democracy without voice,” and “We demand dignity, not pity.” They stressed that their demand was simple — the payment of salaries they have legally earned but have not received for six consecutive days.
Gëzim Bimbashi, the representative of the RTK Workers’ Union, said the situation had reached a breaking point, warning that a general strike was imminent if the government failed to respond.
“We are not here asking for luxuries or pay raises — only for our basic right: our legally earned salaries,” said Bimbashi. “If no solution is found soon, the Union will consider all legal options to initiate a general strike. Silence and negligence will only escalate our protests.”
Naile Dema-Selmani, Deputy Chair of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK), issued a direct appeal to acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, urging him to immediately allocate funds for RTK employees’ salaries.
“The AGK makes one simple request today — for the Prime Minister to immediately authorize the payment of salaries to RTK workers, as was done before,” Dema-Selmani said. “The financial pressure on media professionals must end.”
Meanwhile, Fisnik Dërguti, a member of RTK’s Union leadership, accused political actors of using the broadcaster as a bargaining tool in partisan conflicts.
“It’s clear RTK’s crisis is being used for political vendettas and blackmail between parties,” Dërguti said. “Our protests will continue — and a strike now seems inevitable.”
The crisis at RTK underscores broader concerns about political interference, financial instability, and threats to media independence in Kosovo’s only public broadcaster.
