TIRANA, July 16 – Hundreds of journalists on Monday gathered in front of the government’s main office, accusing the government of attempting to muzzle the press by forcing media critical of the administration to pay a heavy fine for alleged back taxes that could force companies into bankruptcy.
Last Friday, Top Channel private television station said the taxation department had demanded a fine of 1.3 billion leks for unpaid taxation duties be paid, mainly for advertisement and staff salaries, a heavy fine for any business in one Europe’s poorest countries. Top Channel TV station, part of the independent Top Media group, said the government aimed at silencing criticism of the administration through this action.
Top Channel was ordered to pay 7 million euros in unpaid taxes.
Under Albanian law, that was passed recently and is being first applied with Top Chanel, the channel must pay the full amount before having the right to appeal. But to do so would bankrupt the station, its managers said.
“The government imposed the fine to close the television station of independent and critical news against its administration,” said a Top Channel statement.
The taxation department did not consider it a fine but only back taxes due for the last five years.
All media associations in the country protested against the government move while Top Channel sent letters detailing the action to international media organizations and other institutions.
Several hundred journalists demonstrated outside the government building in central Tirana, while media groups and journalists’ associations joined calls for the fine to be lifted.
They were also joined by many opposition parliamentarians and even a few lawmakers from the governing coalition.
The parliamentary media commission has decided that tax authorities and the Top Channel owner be called to explain their documentation.
