FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY
Protests against the increase in salaries of MPs and ministers took place on 25th May when MPs in the Albanian National Assembly voted on the bill to increase salaries and allowances for themselves, ministers, the prime minister and the speaker of parliament. Activists from the “Together” movement (Lëvizja BASHKË) greeted MPs by throwing them fake money and calling for increasing pensions and adopting the minimum wage. After the protest, police arrived at the headquarters of the movement. According to the activists, the police brought a list of names of people to be arrested in connection with the protests. According to some media reports, eight people were summoned to the police station for questioning, including the leader of the movement, Arlind Qori.
On 1st May, workers in the sanitation, garment and call centre industries, as well as representatives of the new nurses' and police unions, marked International Workers' Day with protests for more rights and safety at work. They gathered in the pedestrian zone of Tirana, where they demanded decent wages and the implementation of the Labour Code. The protest brought together new trade unions and organisations under the umbrella of the Coalition for Rights at Work. The lack of paid time off for official holidays and annual leave, extra hours worked, under-the-table payments and delayed salaries were some of the concerns raised by workers and trade unionists. Shortly after International Workers’ Day, but after two years of organising and strikes, Bilishti garment workers finally managed to strike a collective agreement with the "Toni Oil" company.
On 20th May, the 11th annual LGBTQI+ Pride Parade took place in Tirana under the slogan “Open your heart”. The Pride Parade started as a celebration of flags and colours, but also with strong political messages to demand access to healthcare for transgender persons and protection from violence and discrimination. The activists demanded recognition for LGBTQI+ families and safety for their children. They called on Prime Minister Edi Rama to refrain from propaganda and fulfil the government's promises for LGBTQI+ rights. In Albania, progress on LGBTQI+ rights is limited, with a score of 35% on ILGA-Europe's Rainbow Map and Index.
Ivzi Hoxha, 62, was sentenced to one year in prison on 1st June for threatening Prime Minister Edi Rama during a demonstration against the demolition of houses in his neighbourhood. According to the portal CNA, he will benefit from a reduced sentence and will ultimately spend eight months in prison. Ivzi Hoxha threatened the Prime Minister and his son on 19th January 2023 during a live broadcast on the Ora News television channel, when he and other citizens of the “5 Maji” neighbourhood were protesting against the demolition of houses in the area by the Tirana Municipality.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
According to Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index 2023, press freedom in Albania has improved, with the country ranking 96th in the world, up from 103rd in 2022. However, the situation remains worrying, with editorial independence threatened by party political interests and journalists at risk from organised crime and occasional police violence. Despite improvements in many south-eastern and central European countries, Albania continues to face challenges in ensuring a free and independent media environment.
On 3rd May in Albania, journalists' associations used the occasion of World Press Freedom Day to point out the lack of improvement in the framework conditions for independent, critical media. Concerns were raised about the concentration of media ownership, the lack of transparency in funding sources, partisan regulations and the threats posed by organised crime. Faktoje, a fact-checking organisation in Albania, took the opportunity to point out the challenges to press freedom in the country: Journalists face threats, censorship and disinformation from politicians and businesses, which prevents them from providing accurate information to the public. The shift to online platforms has also led to the spread of disinformation and hate speech, undermining trust in credible media and democratic institutions.
At a meeting of the Democratic Party in Albania on 7th June, journalists from various media were prevented from reporting and verbally attacked. Supporters of former party leader Lulzim Basha allegedly threatened the journalists with physical violence and tried to prevent them from filming and reporting. The SafeJournalists network called on the Democratic Party to condemn the actions of its supporters and to take measures to ensure the safety and freedom of journalists in the future.
In May, it was reported that the company "Renco SPA Albania" had sued activist and environmentalist Lavdosh Ferruni in a criminal defamation case. According to the company, in an article in which he is quoted, Ferruni made unfounded allegations about the company and its links to the Italian mafia, as well as proven cases of bribery in Africa. While the company claims that Ferruni deliberately spread false allegations to denigrate the company's image, the environmentalist said he would see the issue through in court as his statements were factually accurate.