TIRANA, Sept. 5 – The Union of Journalists of Albania announced on Tuesday that over 45 journalists from different media have sought asylum or citizenship in other states in an attempt to leave the country from threats they receive from exercising their duty.
Union head Aleksander Cipa said that during 2017- 2018 the number of threatened journalists rose, with many seeking asylum in the US and EU countries due to job hazards, and many others seeking citizenship in other places.
“Twelve journalists have sought asylum in EU and US countries due to job hazards, while 34 have sought citizenship in other countries. Almost all of them have filled out evidence forms and documents for threats on duty and are preparing to depart,” Cipa said.
Only two days after the gun attack on well-known crime journalist Klodiana Lala, another local reporter was threatened in Lac – a happening for which the Commissioner for the Right to Information and Conservation of Personal Data Besnik Dervishi also expressed his concern.
“I solidarize with both journalists who were recently threatened and with all journalists who are being violated or threatened because of their duty and mission. Mrs Lala in particular, whom I’ve had the opportunity to know and appreciate for her courage in the hard duty of being a journalist. We should all make sure these events are avoided and do not repeat,” Dervishi said.
The Union of Albanian Journalists protested the gun attack on Lala’s family residence several times over the last week.
Cipa said this life-threatening event for Lala and her family risks remaining unsolved, like many other cases where journalists were threatened.
Still-unknown perpetrators attacked Lala’s parents home in the outskirts of Tirana on Aug. 30 with an automatic gun, while the News 24 journalist and her family were inside. Lala said she suspects the attack is related to her work as a crime journalist.
Lala is one of the most experienced journalists covering crime news in Albania, with years of experience behind her. In context, political and state authorities, as well as associations of journalists, reacted harshly to the attack.
In addition, a number of journalists came out in social networks after the blatant attack, writing that they, too, have been subject to many threats due to their profession and forced to seek a safer life somewhere else.
