Arrest of Albanian journalists at the border / Safe Journalists: Violation of freedom of the press

2024-11-04 09:47:00, Aktualitet CNA

Arrest of Albanian journalists at the border / Safe Journalists: Violation of

On November 2, 2024, Greek authorities illegally detained Albanian journalists (Fjorela Beleshi and Elja Zotka) and film crews of A2 CNN and TV Klan for over four hours at the Kapshtica border crossing. The teams were traveling to Thessaloniki to cover a public meeting of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama with the Albanian diaspora in Greece.

Despite having valid credentials and complying with the requirements of the Greek authorities – including a verbal note from the Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs – the passports of the journalists and film crews were temporarily confiscated and they were denied entry without approval clear from the Greek Foreign Ministry.

Greek border officials further restricted journalists by attempting to prevent them from documenting the situation through live reporting from their phones, impeding the ability of journalists to report on the situation in real time.

Although the journalists and film crews were eventually allowed to cross the border after obtaining the required approval from the Greek Foreign Ministry, the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) strongly condemns this incident as an unacceptable obstruction of journalistic work.

This entry ban, linked not to compliance with customs rules, but to last-minute bureaucratic clearances and unclear requests for diplomatic authorizations, can be considered a violation of the European commitment to freedom of the press and free movement of people. , including journalists.

Excessive administrative delays imposed without justification undermine journalists' opportunities to report freely and transparently, threatening core democratic values.

We call on the Greek authorities to provide an official explanation for the detention of journalists at the border and to clarify the specific requirements imposed. Transparent communication is essential to build trust and prevent future incidents.

State authorities should communicate any requests to foreign journalists in advance to avoid delays that hinder cross-border reporting. These guidelines must comply with European principles that protect press freedom and enable access for journalists.

To prevent similar incidents, we call on the Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to strengthen protocols and diplomatic agreements with neighboring countries to ensure that Albanian journalists can move and report freely.

We also request that the Albanian authorities seek an official response from their Greek counterparts on the reasons for the entry ban. We note the response of the Albanian government to assist journalists and recommend the establishment of a formal mechanism to provide rapid consular support to Albanian journalists facing detention at the border or obstruction of the exercise of duty abroad.

The SafeJournalists network calls on media organizations and journalists' associations in Albania, Greece and Europe to unite to condemn this incident. Collective advocacy is essential to strengthen press freedom and ensure transparent protocols for the passage of media teams in cross-border cases.

The engagement of EU institutions and international organizations on media freedom will highlight these issues and encourage EU oversight to ensure respect for press freedom principles across member states.

The network stands by the Albanian journalists affected by this incident. We call on the EU to ensure that member states adhere to principles that support press freedom, transparency and the protection of journalists' rights across borders. Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy and such incidents should not be tolerated.

The SafeJournalists network will inform the relevant national and international actors about this case.

Any attack on journalists is an attack on the public interest, democracy and the rights of all citizens.

Pristina - Skopje - Sarajevo - Zagreb - Belgrade - Podgorica, 4.11.2024

Association of Journalists of Kosovo

Association of Macedonian Journalists

Association of Journalists of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Association of Croatian Journalists

Association of Independent Journalists of Serbia

Media Union of Montenegro/ CNA