PRESS RELEASE

FREEDOM OF PRESS SHALL BE RESPECTED

 On May 8,  2005, the Municipal Police of the district of Korça, executed the suspension of the activity of the private bar in the district of Korça. Two journalists and two cameramen of local TV-s in Korça were shooting the activities of the Municipal Police, Mr. Ardian Shehu, chief of the Municipal Police of the district of Korça did not allow the shooting of the Municipal Police operation, and what’s more exerted violence against Ms. Juliana Dhimitri, who is the Top channel TV correspondent and has thrown away the camera of one of the cameramen.

 Albanian Helsinki Committee, through its correspondent in this district contacted with the journalists who experienced violence and made frequent attempts to contact with the chief of the municipal Police Mr. Ardian Shehu, but this was impossible.

Incited by the fact that psychological and physical violence against the journalists on the part of the representatives of the state authorities is not the first case, AHC condemns the violence exerted upon the representatives of the print and electronic media.

Prohibiting the print and electronic media to have access to information and as a result transfer it to the wide public, including here the different state, political and social activities is unacceptable in a democratic and pluralist society. Such attitudes embody censorship and discrimination elements. They are blatant violations of the right of information and the freedom of media.