TIRANA, Sep 3 – News24, an independent Albanian TV station, denounced on Wednesday its receiving a large fine imposed for broadcasting an anti-government advertisement, saying the fine sought to silence criticism of the administration.
News24 private television station said the National Council of Radio and Television (NCRT), an institution appointed by the parliament to monitor radio-television activities, had fined it 800,000 leks (US$9,743; or 6,700 Euros) for broadcasting a political advertisement spot against Prime Minister Sali Berisha during a non-election period. Berisha is also leader of the governing Democratic Party.
The advertisement, prepared by G99, a public awareness political non-governmental organization, followed another one with Berisha hailing his cabinet’s achievements during three years in power.
Ilir Babaramo, editor-in-chief of News24, considered the fine “a political act through which Berisha wants either to buy some media outlets or to frighten others with an act typical of totalitarian societies.”
News24 said the premier had begun a propaganda campaign of the “Hugo Chavez style” in TV stations that blindly support his politics using hundreds of millions of leks coming from Albanian taxpayers.
Last year, the government also sent its taxation authorities to impose a heavy fine against another private TV station, Top Channel, for unpaid taxation duties mainly for advertisement and staff salaries.
That fine was not collected only after international protests arose.
The European Union, in which Albania seeks to become a member in the future, has told Tirana it also wants more media freedom, besides an independent judiciary, stronger property rights and a tougher fight against corruption in Albania.
The opposition immediately reacted, saying the fine is a political move by Berisha against independent media outlets.
News254 said lawyers were preparing the official documents to formally complain about the fine, adding they had also appealed to international institutions for support.
