Ernesa Shala is a JURIST staff correspondent from Kosovo and a recent graduate of the University of Pristina Faculty of Law.
In a deeply concerning turn of events, Kosovo has fallen to 99th place in the 2025 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index, the lowest ranking in over 15 years. This decline is a damning indictment of the of state democracy, accountability, and fundamental rights in Kosovo today.
This is the second consecutive year of regression. From a promising 56th place in 2023, Kosovo dropped to 75th in 2024 and now finds itself near the bottom of the European table, performing worse than any country in the Western Balkans and many authoritarian states around the world. The reasons behind this decline are systemic and alarming: political interference, regulatory manipulation, legal harassment, and threats to journalists’ safety. At a time when a country should be reinforcing democratic institutions, the space for independent journalism is instead shrinking.
While Kosovo’s media landscape appears pluralistic, with a mix of private broadcasters and strong digital platforms such as BIRN and Kosovo 2.0, this diversity masks a highly vulnerable media economy. Financial dependence on advertising revenue which is often tied to political patronage creates fertile grounds for influence and censorship. Editorial freedom is routinely compromised by media owners with close political or business ties, turning many outlets into vehicles for vested interests rather than platforms for public accountability.
The case of the Kosovo public broadcaster RTK is an example of this problem. The appointment of its director, simultaneously a former member of the ruling Vetëvendosje party, has seriously undermined public trust in the broadcaster’s neutrality and independence. This growing politicization of media institutions reflects a broader effort to capture and control the narrative.
Kosovar journalists today work in an increasingly hostile environment. Investigative reporters who uncovered corruption or challenge powerful actors often face harassment, threats, and even physical attacks. In December 2024, a team from Kallxo.com was attacked by masked assailants while reporting in north Mitrovica. Although attacks are condemned, they rarely lead to legal accountability. The lack of effective investigations emboldens perpetrators and sends a chilling message to the press.
This culture of impunity is reinforced by the growing use of SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), which are legal actions designed to intimidate journalists and drain their resources. Politicians and business figures alike are exploiting the civil legal system to silence critical voices, creating a climate of fear that discourages scrutiny.
At the heart of this crisis lies the collapse of regulatory independence. The once-autonomous Independent Media Commission (IMC) has been weakened by legislative reforms that threaten its impartiality. Its failure to uphold fair standards during the 2025 general election, alongside government boycotts of certain private outlets, such as Klan Kosova, highlight a pattern of systematic repression.
Equally troubling is the government’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric. Journalists are routinely vilified, accused of undermining the state, and targeted in coordinated smear campaigns online. This toxic discourse has normalized hostility toward the press, emboldening extremists and weakening public support for journalism as a pillar of democracy.
The government’s actions and inaction speak volumes. Instead of shielding the press from pressure, it is becoming a source of it. Rather than supporting transparency, it is fostering opacity. And instead of protecting journalists, it is allowing, if not encouraging, their persecution.
