FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
At the national protest of the Democratic Party, held on January 24 in Tirana, journalists were not spared either. The tear gas used by the State Police to disperse the protesters covered the entire boulevard, including the areas where reporters and media operators were. The footage clearly shows tearful journalists, with difficulty breathing, as they continued to report in difficult conditions.
The Union of Albanian Journalists (UGSH) has reacted strongly, calling the incident an unacceptable and reprehensible act against freedom of information and the right to report. According to them, the use of tear gas occurred precisely at the points where journalists were stationed to closely follow the developments of the protest. Instead of protecting their work, the state uniforms turned the information mission into a risk to health and physical integrity.
The UGSH has called on all affected journalists to denounce and document each episode, including footage, evidence and the identification of the responsible persons – whether they are the ones giving the orders or the ones carrying them out. The statement states that this behavior constitutes a violation of fundamental freedoms and an infringement of democracy, and those responsible must be brought to justice.
According to the Union, the police have shown an ignorant attitude towards the journalists' mission, turning them into "reporters who cry because of their duty." The Tirana case is another evidence of the growing tension between the authorities and the media, at a time when transparency and information are more necessary than ever.
The UGSH has called for the reaction of national and international press freedom organizations to punish this serious institutional act. The protest has ended, but the debate on the treatment of journalists has just begun.
Lini një Përgjigje