“My question is: How can one deal with defamation or even legitimate accusations in this country, when not only the media outlet that spreads lies or alleges, but also other media do not make space for the public person who is the target of allegations, if the latter speaks openly about a blackmail from a media owner?!”, Rama said on his social media account.

The General Director of Customs Administration, Genti Gazheli, reacted for the second time following the publication of some allegations in the media levelled by Irfan Hysenbelliu.

“Yesterday I did not mention names, but the owner of News 24, BalkanWeb and Panorama, Irfan Hysenbelliu, has sworn that he will not forgive me the debts he owes to the state!!! His media outlet has launched a personal attack with lies and personal insults, as soon as “Tirana Beer” was fined according to the law, for concealing a significant amount of revenue. Yesterday, the media in question did not publish my reaction even though I did not speak by name, neither about them nor about the organizer of this attack, due to my duty, Irfan Hysenbelli. Today I feel compelled to point the finger and share with the public that, after informing the state authorities, I will also inform the diplomatic corps and the local and international media associations. For the time being I don’t intend to bring to trial the gentleman, who is notorious for media ransom, but now that

I am experiencing the criminal brutality of the slanders of these media outlets, I will consider in tandem with the legal office a trial for the reputation of the Albanian Customs Directorate. In the hope that other media will publish this public statement, I say to Mr. Irfan and all those like him who are used to abusing at the expense of the state disguised as the media, that no one can hold sway on me when it comes to enforcement of the fiscal law,” Gazheli said.
The media outlets owned by Hysenbelliu alleged that the Director of Customs Administration has promoted officials who are being investigated for smuggling and organized crime by Greek justice.
/j.p/r.e/sm/