Media freedom concerns in Albania

Political figures and media organizations in Albania have raised concerns regarding threats to media freedom and access to information.

In August, political leaders, including former President Ilir Meta and Mundësia Party leader Agron Shehaj, condemned the government for what they described as a “continuous criminal attack” against the television station News24. Critics alleged that the government used state resources to pressure critical voices and noted that the station had experienced a violent signal interruption one year prior.

By September, the focus shifted toward digital platforms as several Albanian media outlets and journalists reported sudden account suspensions on Meta platforms. The Association of Journalists of Albania (AGSH) warned that these closures, which affected outlets such as Euronews Albania and Citizens.al, threatened the public’s right to information. While Meta acknowledged some accounts were removed in error and initiated a review, the company has not provided a full explanation for the widespread issues affecting Albanian users.