AGSH: 50 incidents against journalists during student protests, 80% of cases related to the Police

The Journalists' Association of Albania has documented 50 cases of attacks and incidents against journalists and media workers during student protests in Tirana, in the period 13–24 October 2026. According to the report, 40 of these cases, or 80% of the total, are directly related to the State Police.

AGSH reports that in five cases, journalists and media workers have been hit with rubber bullets by police while they were performing their duties, reporting on developments from the protests.

The list of documented incidents includes physical violence, threats, obstruction of reporting, damage to professional equipment, use of pepper spray, and verbal attacks on journalists and media outlets.

The report highlights the problems faced by media representatives while covering the protests, which were accompanied by clashes between demonstrators and police.

AGSH has also published the full list of incidents recorded during this period, reflecting the cases reported against journalists and media workers.

List: 

The documentation includes cases of physical violence, threats, obstruction of reporting, damage to equipment, and verbal attacks against journalists and media outlets, reported to the Albanian Journalists Association (AGSH).

OCTOBER 13, 2026

Anesti Bajramemaj – A2 CNN – Violence reported by the State Police while covering the protest.
Heri Simota – A2 CNN – Violence reported by the State Police, in the same incident as journalist Anesti Bajramemaj.
Fatime Halmusaj – Unspecified media – Hit and injured in the leg by a smoke grenade thrown by the police.
Izmir Akulli – Dosja.al – Physical violence reported by State Police officers, while documenting the police intervention against the protesters.
Xhoi Malësia – Top News – Threatened by a police officer with a tear gas canister.
14 OCTOBER 2026

Enkelejda Mema – Euronews Albania – Obstruction of filming and performance of duty by the State Police.
Alice Taylor – Euronews Albania – Phone taken by a police officer while documenting the protest. The phone was returned to her after a few minutes.
Elvin Kamberi – News24 – Injury from a noisemaker thrown by the police towards the operators and photojournalists.
Bekim Biçi – Ora News – Obstruction of filming and reporting by State Police officers.
Filming crew – Report TV – Attack and vandalism of the camera by masked protesters.
15 OCTOBER 2026

Doriana Bezat – Top Channel – Physical attack reported by protesters while performing her duties.
Jonida Mukja – Piranjat – Obstruction by the State Police while reporting.
Albi Muçollari – Piranjat – Forced removal by State Police officers while documenting police interventions.
Felix Bilani – SYRI TV – Obstruction by persons in civilian clothes, suspected of being police officers, while filming the detention of minors.
16 OCTOBER 2026

Elkier Bushkolaj – SYRI TV – Obstruction by the State Police during live reporting near the Pyramid in Tirana.
17 OCTOBER 2026

Eksiola Shehu– Euronews Albania – Physically pulled away by police and attempted to take away phone while documenting the protest.
Journalists from various media outlets – Obstruction of reporting by masked and unidentified persons, in the presence of the Director General of the State Police.
Unidentified journalist by name – Reuters – Hit with a rubber bullet while covering the protest in Tirana. Unidentified journalist
by name – Reuters – Hit with a rubber bullet while covering the protest in Tirana.
Raimond Lueppken – Independent Swiss photojournalist – Pressure from two people in civilian clothes to delete the footage he had recorded in Durrës. The identity of the persons has not been confirmed.
18 OCTOBER 2026

Hameraldi Agolli – Photojournalist, unspecified media – Forced arrest reported by the State Police while performing his duty.
Osman Stafa – News24 – Obstruction while performing his duty by the State Police.
Taulant Koplikaj – Unspecified media – Physical assault reported by State Police officers.
Renaldo Salianji – News24 – Physical assault and insults reported by a police officer.
Glidona Daci – Klan News – Stoned, reported as committed by police officers.
Elira Kadriu– Citizens.al – Stoned by a protester while covering the protest.
Elkier Bushkolaj – SYRI TV – Shot with a rubber bullet by the State Police, sustaining injuries to the leg.
Marshi Korreshi – SYRI TV – Shot with a diving suit and forcibly pushed by police officers.
Juljan Hoxha – SYRI TV – Physical assault reported by “Eagle” forces officers.
Felix Bilani – SYRI TV – Physical violence reported by members of the “Eagle” forces.
Edi Rama – Prime Minister of Albania / News24 – Public statements against News24 television, criticized by AGSH as verbal attacks and denigrating rhetoric. The Prime Minister accused the television of tax evasion worth millions of euros, claimed that it enjoyed immunity from the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office and that it was used to overthrow the government. He also referred to allegations of non-payment of social security and delays in employee salaries.
Eno Bozdo – Democratic Party MP / Esido Barkaj, Vizion Plus – Use of offensive and denigrating language towards the journalist during a press conference, while he was asking a question. AGSH condemned the MP’s behavior and demanded a public apology.
19 OCTOBER 2026

Armand Bajrami – A2 CNN – Hit with rubber bullets by the State Police during live broadcast.
Gazment Seiti – KlikNews.al – Hit with rubber bullets by the State Police during coverage of the protest.
Endri Cuka – Media for verification – Incident reported to the State Police; exact circumstances remain to be clarified.
Hamza Jaupi – Media for verification – Hit with a baton and sprayed with spray by State Police officers.
Sergei Senka – Media for verification – Sprayed with spray by State Police officers.
Edison Vatnikaj – Ora News – Hit with a slap by a State Police officer while performing his duty.
Kristi Gongo – Top Channel – Verbal threat by a police officer while filming a police action.
20 OCTOBER 2026

Fatjon Nurçellari – A2 CNN – Attack on the film crew by two protesters while covering the protest in Tirana.
Edi Rama – Prime Minister of Albania / Albanian media – Public statements criticized by AGSH as stigmatizing rhetoric against the media, during a meeting with Tirana high school principals.
OCTOBER 21, 2026

Sali Berisha – Chairman of the Democratic Party / Top Channel, Report TV and other media – Verbal attacks and use of derogatory language against media leaders and representatives, convicted by AGSH.
22 OCTOBER 2026

43. Unidentified Greek journalist/ Physical attack with stones thrown by protesters

OCTOBER 24, 2026

44. Klevi Muka – News 24 / Burns on the body from water thrown by the police

45. Ardit Hoxha, Euronews Albania/ Shot with rubber bullet by the State Police

46. ​​Freard Rista, Piranhas/ Physical attack with stones thrown by protesters

47. KlanNews team, Journalist Glidona Daci, cameraman Jurgen Lapaj/ Intentional attack by police with pepper spray at close range

48. Photojournalist MM, American Citizen/ Unreasonable Association at Police Station No. 2

49. Osman Stafa, News24/ Verbal attack by the State Police against him

50. Armand Kullau, News 24/ Pepper spray attack by the Police, deliberate, at close range