July 3, 2020 -- The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) in Kosovo and its country director Jeta Xharra have been slapped with a defamation lawsuit by Dhurata Hoxha, a former Democratic Party of Kosovo’s (PDK) Minister of European Integration. The said lawsuit is against an investigation by the network's local outlet, carried out in collaboration with Internews KALLXO.com, and Prishtina Insight. Jeta has also been threatened online by Gani Koci, a former deputy minister from the PDK.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the lawsuit filed against BIRN and its country director Jeta, as well as the threats she has received online. We demand that the lawsuit is withdrawn immediately, while the reprehensible comments made by Koci call for an apology.

The lawsuit filed against BIRN and Jeta is concerned with an investigation revealing public officials’ complicity in promoting territorial exchange with Serbia. The story highlighted the extent of steps taken by politicians to cover malpractices. Skender Musa, the legal representative for the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) filed the defamation case on June 26, which challenged the aforementioned investigation and claimed that it was fiction.

On the other hand, the threats against Jeta by Gani Koci reflect the suppressive behaviour of the political elite in Kosovo that continues to instil fear among members of the press. The way he blatantly attacked several journalists and politicians on Facebook who do not comply with his beliefs shows the lack of tolerance within members of PDK.

Koci wrote, “The time has come not to disinfect but to cover with concrete the Serbian septic tanks still left in Kosovo. They are releasing a lot of odour!” He accompanied his post with photographs of the people he was referring to which included Jeta and the former prime minister and Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti among others. However, he later deleted his initial post and shared it without the photos.

CFWIJ finds the threats and lawsuit against Jeta and BIRN deplorable. Such acts will only result in the suppression of press freedom and threaten the safety of journalists in Kosovo. Investigative journalism challenging those who misuse power is crucial; therefore, no organization or journalists should fear speaking truth to power. We will continue to support Jeta and BIRN during this testing time, while they stand face to face against their oppressors.