union-journalists-protest – Albanian  Telegraphic  Agency. https://en.ata.gov.al News Agency Sat, 17 Oct 2026 10:29:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 AJU: Journalists’ work obstructed, equipment damaged during protests in Tirana and Gjirokastër https://en.ata.gov.al/2026/10/17/aju-journalists-work-obstructed-equipment-damaged-during-protests-in-tirana-and-gjirokaster/ https://en.ata.gov.al/2026/10/17/aju-journalists-work-obstructed-equipment-damaged-during-protests-in-tirana-and-gjirokaster/#respond Sat, 17 Oct 2026 10:29:30 +0000 https://en.ata.gov.al/?p=310080 TIRANA, Oct 17/ATA/The Albanian Journalists’ Union (AJU) today reacted to several incidents involving obstruction and damage to journalists’ equipment during protests in Tirana and Gjirokastër.

In a statement, the union condemned the incidents, saying it had received further complaints and reports from journalists and media workers over the past 24 hours.
The union said the incidents included obstruction, pushing and damage to journalists’ equipment by both protesters and police officers during demonstrations in Tirana and Gjirokastër.
It also condemned the actions of police officers who obstructed journalist Elkier Bushkolaj near the Pyramid in Tirana on the fourth day of violent protests.
According to the statement, footage of the incident was captured by cameras belonging to several media outlets and by reporters’ personal devices.
The union reported a similar incident involving reporter Piro Nase in Gjirokastër, whose mobile phone was damaged by a protester while he was covering demonstrations and tensions near the local police station. Nase subsequently filed a complaint, the statement said.
Expressing solidarity with its branches in Gjirokastër, Berat and Tirana, the Albanian Journalists’ Union called on police officers to exercise greater responsibility and respect towards journalists performing their professional duties.
“We call for disciplinary action against uniformed personnel who obstruct or assault reporters and media workers on duty, or otherwise violate their physical integrity. We also call for action against officers who fail to intervene when journalists are threatened by crowds or aggressive individuals seeking to intimidate, blackmail or provoke them, including while they are reporting live,” the statement concluded.
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]]> https://en.ata.gov.al/2026/10/17/aju-journalists-work-obstructed-equipment-damaged-during-protests-in-tirana-and-gjirokaster/feed/ 0 Albanian Journalists’ Union condemns violence against journalists covering protest https://en.ata.gov.al/2026/10/13/albanian-journalists-union-condemns-violence-against-journalists-covering-protest/ https://en.ata.gov.al/2026/10/13/albanian-journalists-union-condemns-violence-against-journalists-covering-protest/#respond Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:59:55 +0000 https://en.ata.gov.al/?p=309345 TIRANA, Oct 13 /ATA/ The Albanian Journalists’ Union (UGSH) issued a statement today following injuries sustained by reporters and camera operators who were outside the Ministry of Education around midday and in the afternoon to cover a protest by students and citizens.

According to the union, they were subjected not only to physical force and moments of brutality, but also sustained injuries and physical pain.

“Four complaints have been submitted to the Albanian Journalists’ Union (UGSH): two by female reporters and two by television camera operators. In one case, they were struck with hard objects and pushed during a confrontation between the crowd and police. A photojournalist working for an online media outlet was hit on the head and injured. Other media workers experienced serious breathing difficulties due to the use of smoke devices and pepper spray,” the union said.

The UGSH said that reporters on duty had raised concerns and lodged complaints with police commanders present at the protest outside the ministry.
The union condemned the violence and called on the State Police authorities to investigate the incidents and hold those responsible for the violence against journalists and reporters on duty accountable.

“We call on the Police Oversight Agency to investigate the incidents and punish those responsible for the violence,” the UGSH said.
The union also condemned violence against institutions and expressed its strong support for the rights of protesting students.
The UGSH called for the utmost respect for freedom of reporting and for the physical safety of media workers to be protected in settings such as public gatherings and protests involving citizens and students.

The UGSH also expressed its full solidarity with colleagues who continue to report and insist on shedding light on the realities of Albanian society in a pluralistic society.
“We call on institutional and political authorities to safeguard fundamental freedoms and ensure the proper functioning of the rule of law and democracy,” the union said.

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