“RD was declared as an organ of the DP, but as a matter of fact the newspaper was an organ of free thought, intellectual and universal thought”, said Berisha at the reception organized on this occasion.

Berisha also focused on the censorship that affected even the largest nation, the States, but which, according to him, received a fatal blow in the elections of November 5, 2024, with the victory of Donald Trump.

“Today, after 34 years, we celebrate that day at a time when free speech has been marginalized in Albanian society; but it has been marginalized not only in Albania. I would like to say that it is only Albania but, this is not true. The terribly bitter truth is that censorship, in the most insane way, began to be talked about even in countries of freedom. Offices were created for censorship in the heart of those institutions that should have had the opposite mission. Parliamentary committees were also created for censorship, among others in Albania, under the label of disinformation”, said Berisha.

According to him, “In Albania, it is hypocrisy to talk about free speech, since it is followed by imprisonment”.

During his speech, Berisha called on democrats and free and honest citizens to never stop fighting for free speech.

At the ceremony of the 34th anniversary of the “Rilindja Demokratike”, Berisha stated that, “The extreme left today is the worst that has ever existed in all its forms and we must never stop fighting for free speech”.

Berisha also commented on the decision to close TikTok for 1 year in Albania, describing this as, “The most serious act of censorship that can be undertaken and the most serious act against free speech.”/m.m/j.p/p.s./

Basha reminded that, Rilindja Demokratike appeared on the morning of January 5, 1991, after a half-century under communism. It was the first opposition media organ in Albania, the founder of the free Albanian press, marking the beginning of the new history of the country. It was a tribune of reflections on the communist regime of the past and on the long-awaited democracy of the future, the deed of intellectuals, journalists, students, who joined the Democratic Party from the early hours so that to bring free speech, free vote and reunification with the West”, said Basha.

31 years on, Basha emphasized, “media freedom undergoes difficult times. It needs encouragement and comprehensive support so that no one violates the free speech.”/p.s./