FLASH
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The Union of Albanian Journalists has reacted harshly to the behavior of some opposition leaders and their supporters towards media representatives, during the protest held today on “Zog I” Boulevard. In a strong public statement, the UGSH describes this behavior as “unacceptable” and “threatening” to freedom of expression and the work of journalists in the field.
According to the Union, reporters and cameramen who covered the protest faced aggressive reactions and derogatory labels simply because of their questions, which, although difficult, are part of a journalist's mission. "Journalists have no political commitment. Any controversy with them is a violation of ethics and a form of pressure on the media," the reaction states.
UGSH considers this stance as a return to the "mentality of the lack of democratic diversity", and compares it to behavior from the early years of pluralism, when the media was seen as the enemy of political parties.
"The opposition's battles are with the government, not with journalists," the statement stressed, calling on the leaders of the Democratic Party and its allies to urgently distance themselves from the incident and publicly apologize.
statements
The Union of Albanian Journalists considers the language of some of the leaders of the main opposition party towards journalists in the protest against the May 11 electoral process, held on Zog I Boulevard in Tirana, unacceptable.
Reporters and media operators have addressed the leaders of the opposition protest with questions and in response, they have received unacceptable reactions and labels from them and the supporters present.
Journalists present at political activities or protests have no political commitment, but only a mission of reporting and reflecting what is happening. Any labeling or polemic with reporters, at protests of political entities, are unacceptable and constitute a violation of ethics and an infringement of freedom of expression, reporting and a threat to them, in the line of duty.
The tendency to politicize questions or journalists' insistence because of their questions is wrong and takes us back to the beginnings of Albanian political pluralism and the mindsets of the missing culture of democratic diversity.
UGSH condemns these episodes, the verbal aggression and stigmatization that MPs and specific opposition leaders witnessed in this political activity of theirs.
We ask the opposition and its representatives, present at this event, to reflect on respect for the media, the role of journalism, and the independence of journalists in general.
The opposition's battles are connected and should remain only within politics, with its political parties and opponents. Journalists are representatives of another power in a democracy.
It is not right to add journalists and the role of the media to the list of enemies because of political opponents or enemies, as our political class has been characterized. This is unacceptable!
UGSH expresses strong solidarity with colleagues and operators who faced this situation in the protest called by the opposition.
We appeal that the forums and senior opposition leaders urgently distance themselves from this case and the behavior of such examples in their relationship with journalists on duty!
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