Artan Hoxha, non grata in Greece/UGSH calls on institutions for explanations, raises strong doubts

2025-11-24 13:54:00, Aktualitet CNA

Artan Hoxha, non grata in Greece/UGSH calls on institutions for explanations,

The Union of Albanian Journalists (UGSH) has reacted sharply after the decision of the Greek border authorities to declare investigative journalist Artan Hoxha persona non grata in Greece.

According to UGSH, the measure is "absurd", extremist and part of a series of repeated practices against Albanian journalists.

The UGSH has called on the Albanian Foreign Ministry to immediately request explanations from the Greek parties and to activate diplomatic mechanisms to protect the rights of Albanian journalists.

Among other things, the UGSH has raised suspicions that segments of political and nationalist extremism in Greece influence the compilation of lists of Albanian journalists who report on historical, ethnic issues or on affairs of Greek homogenous people who became Greek citizens after the '90s.

The organization has informed that it has also reached out to international media institutions and civil liberties organizations for solidarity and response.

Announcement of the Albanian Journalists' Union

UGSH reacts to the decision of the Greek border authorities to declare journalist Artan Hoxha as persona non grata.

Greece has absurdly increased the number of similar measures against Albanian journalists. We demand the reaction of the Albanian state and international organizations of fundamental freedoms.

Tirana 24.11.2025

Through a document signed and stamped by the border control authorities, at the Kakavie crossing point, investigative journalist Artan Hoxha has been confirmed as a persona non grata in Greece.

The reason, confirmed in two languages, in the letter given to the journalist, was stated to be that:

"It undermines the internal security of the EU (or of a single EU state)."

No other specific clarification has been communicated to the journalist declared as an undesirable person and dangerous to the Greek state. Journalist Hoxha has not and has never been subject to criminal prosecution or legal problems in this country, or in any court of EU countries.

This is an extreme measure, but it increases the number of Albanian journalists banned from entering the territory of the Republic of Greece. For many years, such a measure has been announced for the well-known journalist Marin Mema. The same order has been communicated to Enrik Mehmeti.

Meanwhile, from time to time, various journalists have been prevented and detained during interview sessions by Greek police and service personnel at border and airport checkpoints in the neighboring country, without being given official reasons for the obstruction or delay in crossing the border.

The Albanian Journalists' Union has for years reiterated its demands for an official explanation for these extreme measures against Albanian journalists.

The UGSH has turned to international journalist organizations and diplomatic institutions for solidarity and reactions.

It is time for our Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to seek explanations and activate its peer mechanisms for these increased cases, seeking explanations and possibly offering support for the processes of pursuing the cases through legal channels.

UGSH expresses suspicion that segments and individuals of political and nationalist extremism in Greece influence the structures of the Greek services and police to compile lists of Albanian journalists who defend and report on historical truths of Albanians in Greece and on political affairs and criminality of Greek homogenous people who became Greek citizens after the 1990s.

The acts of detaining and declaring journalists as dangerous and undesirable persons, by neighboring countries such as Greece, are dangerous precedents and behaviors against freedom of movement, free expression and media reporting./ CNA