Kosovo ranks 99th in the world out of 180 countries in the organization's annual 2025 press freedom index. Reporters Without Borders.
It is the second consecutive year that Kosovo has recorded a decline in this index, where in 2024 it fell from 56th place to 75th place.
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The report states that media freedom is threatened by politicized regulation, insufficient access to public information, and serious risks to the safety of journalists.
It is further said that journalists continue to be targets of political attacks.
“The ineffective media regulator, the Independent Media Commission, underwent a controversial legislative reform that risks further hampering its independence. Ahead of the 2025 elections, several private media outlets were targeted by a government boycott, which also threatened the independence of the public broadcaster RTK. Serbian-language media, which are under pressure from Serbian political forces, have complained of discrimination in access to public information, especially in their language," the report states.
Reporters Without Borders said that journalists are often the target of insults and fake news on social media and that they are "unfairly accused of 'collaborating with the enemy,' rhetoric used by political and religious groups."
"In recent years, many journalists have been subject to threats and physical attacks by criminal networks and also due to political tensions between Pristina and Belgrade. Some journalists have been the target of wiretapping. Although attacks are investigated by the police and prosecution, they rarely result in criminal prosecution," the report said.
The IMC law passed last year provided for the licensing of online media, their supervision, and fines of up to 40 euros. This week, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo struck down the law after finding that several articles were not in accordance with the Constitution.
Murati: AGK should have held a conference in front of an oligarch's offices, not the Government's
Photo: Driton Pacharada
Acting Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, said that the Kosovo Journalists Association should have held the press conference following the publication of the report on press freedom by the organization Reporters Without Borders "in front of the offices of an oligarch who controls the media, and not in front of the government."
In a Facebook post, Murat said that the claim that media freedom is worse in Kosovo than in Serbia is incorrect. "It is even ridiculous to claim this," he wrote.
Murati said that in content, the report says what government officials also say.
"'The media are financed by private sector advertising, and in some cases by MUNICIPAL authorities or POLITICAL PARTIES. Moreover, THROUGH THEIR OWNERS, the editorial offices of private media are exposed to INTERFERENCE from powerful BUSINESS AND POLITICAL groups.' So the report is also saying that the owners of private media intervene in their media to push forward the agendas of political parties or certain businesses. In other words, today's AGK conference should have been held in front of the offices of some oligarch who controls the media, and not in front of the government," Murati continued.
At the press conference, the AGK described Kosovo's ranking in the index this year as shocking. This year's report listed Kosovo in 99th place out of 180 countries. This is the second consecutive time that Kosovo has experienced a decline in the index. This year, Kosovo is worse than the countries of the Western Balkans.
Koci on the media freedom report: Part of the special war against Kosovo's statehood
Lawyer Arianit Koci has described Kosovo's decline in the ranking of the annual press freedom index of the organization Reporters Without Borders as part of a special ongoing war against Kosovo's statehood.
Koci said that no one who knows the reality believes that Kosovo is worse than Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia in terms of press freedom. In a Facebook post, Koci said that the goals of reports that position Kosovo differently from reality are to damage its image.
“According to Reporters Without Borders, Serbia ranks higher than Kosovo in the 2025 press freedom index: Serbia in 96th place, Kosovo in 99th. Lower than Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia. No one who knows the reality believes this. Because in Kosovo, journalists speak freely. The government and the opposition are criticized every day. Protests are not banned. No one is imprisoned for dissenting views. Kosovo is not perfect. There are real challenges. But freedom of speech exists. This report is not just a technical error. It is part of a special ongoing war against Kosovo's statehood. Soft blows at first glance, but with serious intentions: to damage Kosovo's image, to relativize the truth, to equate a functioning democracy with an authoritarian regime,” he wrote.
Koci counted the murders of journalists in Serbia to show the state of media freedom there. He said that the media there is under the control of the government and the opposition is treated as an internal enemy.
The lawyer said that Kosovo must defend itself against "distorted rankings."
"If we don't defend our truth - others will invent it for us," he said.
Mustafa: Kurti would not have come to power without the support of many media outlets
Former Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has reacted after Kosovo's drop of 24 places in the media freedom index published by the international organization "Reporters Without Borders", calling the current situation worrying and accusing the Kurti Government of direct responsibility.
“The current government in office, hand on heart, would not have come to power without the support and lobbying of many media outlets, sometimes outside any ethical and professional criteria,” Mustafa wrote on Facebook. He added that citizens “did not vote for the results,” but for “the perception that the media created for them.”
Mustafa also wrote about changes in media behavior on the eve of the February 9 elections, saying that some media outlets supported opposition entities, not because they loved them, but out of fear of, as he called it, "the authoritarian regime of the VV."
He called for more professionalism and responsibility within the media community, emphasizing that "not only Kurti's rule has damaged free speech and democracy, but also the media itself, which has replaced professionalism with political worship."
"I consider that a little more professional behavior and responsibility for free speech will help the media avoid the shovels of politics. Kosovo bears the consequences," Mustafa concluded.
Kosovo is ranked 99th out of 180 countries in the annual press freedom index for 2025, marking the biggest decline compared to the previous year, when it was in 75th place.
Kryeziu: There is no lack of press freedom, there is a decline in media standards
The acting Government Spokesperson, Përparim Kryeziu, said that there is no lack of press freedom in Kosovo, but a decline in media standards, on the day the Reporters Without Borders report was published, which this year listed Kosovo in 99th place out of 180 countries.
In the index, it is the second time that Kosovo has experienced a decline.
"In Kosovo, there has not been, nor will there be, a lack of press freedom. Society is to blame for this. What we see over the years is a decline in media standards. When this declining standard is met with a response from both citizens and institutions that are the subjects of unprofessional reporting, they are considered attacks and threats, which are then included in international reports such as this one by Reporters Without Borders," he said in a response to KOHA.
This year, Kosovo is worse than the Western Balkan countries. However, according to Kryeziu, the ranking is not an accurate reflection of the situation.
"With all due respect to Reporters Without Borders and despite the areas in which Kosovo can improve, this ranking is not a correct reflection of the situation in our country. Kosovo cannot be worse than Serbia, but it enjoys significantly more media freedom in the region and elsewhere," Kryeziu's response states.
PDK on Reporters Without Borders report: VV has installed a regime of lynching and intimidation
Photo: Driton Pacharada
Democratic Party of Kosovo MP Blerta Deliu-Kodra has accused the Government led by the Vetëvendosje Movement of a "lynching and intimidation regime", following the publication of the report by the organization "Reporters without Borders", in which Kosovo is ranked 99th out of 180 countries, or 24 places lower than last year.
A PDK statement states that Deliu-Kodra, in a press conference, said that this is one of the darkest moments in the history of the state of Kosovo.
“Today, the data published by Reporters Without Borders ranks Kosovo 99th out of 180 countries in the world for freedom of expression. This is the lowest ranking in Kosovo’s history. A shameful, dramatic and alarming decline: from 56th place in 2023, to 75th place in 2024, to finish today in 99th place! And the report leaves no doubt: the Vetëvendosje government is responsible for this decline. Those who came in the name of change are demoting Kosovo instead of fear and silence. We have all felt this decline. Journalists who have been attacked have felt it. Citizens who have been lynched have experienced it. Activists and professionals who have been publicly slandered just for daring to think differently have faced it. The decline in the level of media freedom is not a slide but a deliberate collapse. Vetëvendosje has built a regime of lynching and intimidation. "Coordinated, orchestrated attacks, with a propaganda machine that targets every critical voice, especially on social networks," Deliu-Kodra is quoted as saying.
She is said to have declared that Kosovo is a victim of bad governance, marking a decline in every economic, social and security indicator.
"And if we once agreed on one thing with Albin Kurti – it was this: that Aleksandar Vučić is an autocrat. But today, when Kosovo ranks worse than Serbia in freedom of expression – we must ask out loud: If freedom of speech in Kosovo is more limited than in Serbia, then what does Albin Kurti deserve? This is a question that challenges the conscience of every citizen. This is the mirror in which each of us must see reality. Ultimately, a power that is afraid of speech is a power that knows it has no right. And any power that has no right has no future. We are here to tell this truth. And we will tell it every day. Until truth becomes power. And free speech becomes the foundation of the Republic again," Deliu-Kodra is quoted as saying.
AGK: The ranking in the press freedom index is shocking
The President of the Kosovo Journalists Association, Xhemajl Rexha, has described as shocking Kosovo's ranking in the press freedom index, where it has fallen 24 places from last year.
Rexha said that AGK sees this as a reflection of Albin Kurti's governance.
"On behalf of the Board, we have gathered to express our position on the alarming decline of Kosovo in Reporters Without Borders. 24 places lower than last year after Kosovo had fallen 19 places lower. A shocking ranking, the worst last place in the Balkans, and some of the reasons are listed. The controversial IMC law that we have opposed from the beginning. The labels that they are collaborators of the enemy, and the same are still being developed today. Another element is the lack of independence of RTK, the safety of journalists remains a problem, mentioned in this report, the increase in SLAPP lawsuits, and the unauthorized surveillance of journalists," said Rexha.
He added that the Kurti Government has been constantly against the media and that this was also proven by the Law on the IMC, which was later overturned by the Constitutional Court.
"AGK evaluates this ranking as a result, a reflection of what happened last year, a campaign by the Kosovo government, led against the media. Their climate is against the media. The absolutely intimidating language that has peaked since November-December, with the approach of the campaign, and after it. It is the last moment to reflect as a society, AGK is interested and calls for us to actually come together, if necessary by forming a task force to address these findings, to address media freedom in Kosovo and the safety of journalists," said Rexha.
Rexha added that immediately after the publication of the report and statement, a series of attacks were seen against the AGK, but also against him.
"We are used to it, but we should not get used to it. We do not need to be targeted by people in power by name and surname. We condemn these targetings. VV must address the findings, 2 years ago it was welcomed by the government and VV, and now the report must be read," he said.
He proposed the formation of a task force to address the findings of this report, adding that they are ready to cooperate with everyone on this.
"We have not seen anything, in May the report was made, in July it was approved. The language that was mentioned as unacceptable towards journalists, only escalated. It is a moment of reflection for anyone to change this. VV just needs to stop targeting journalists. We are aware that there is freedom of expression, they fight for it every day, what the report highlights, and the ranking is so low because of these interventions," added Rexha.
LDK: The regression in media freedom is a direct consequence of the VV government
Photo: Driton Pacharada
The Democratic League of Kosovo has said that the Reporters Without Borders report, where Kosovo ranks 99th in the media freedom index, is an alarming indicator of the deterioration of the media environment in the country.
The LDK has held the Kurti Government responsible for Kosovo's decline in this index.
"This marked regression is a direct consequence of the irresponsible governance and authoritarian tendencies of this government. This government has consistently shown clear tendencies to destroy the possibility and space for reporting on its violations and its exponents. The RSF report highlights political interference in public media and pressures on private media, mentioning the appointment of people close to the government to key positions in Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) and the continuous attacks on independent media," he said in a Facebook reaction.
LDK added that relevant institutions must take concrete steps to guarantee the safety of journalists and the free functioning of the media.
"The lynchings of the media by Vetëvendosje and its exponents, as well as the practices of interference in the independence of the media, must be stopped and banned immediately."
Kurti does not respond to the report on media freedom, his bodyguards push journalists
Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has refused to respond to journalists regarding the Reporters Without Borders report, which ranks Kosovo 99th in the media freedom index.
He was asked by the media about the report while returning to the Government from an activity held in "Skënderbeg" Square.
Kurti walked past the journalists, not responding to the report. Meanwhile, his close protection was seen grabbing the journalists by the hand and pushing them away.
German Embassy: Media freedom report, an indicator of the steps the new government should take
The German Embassy in Kosovo has said that the Reporters Without Borders report, where Kosovo ranks 99th for press freedom, is an indicator for the new government of the steps that need to be taken to have press freedom.
"Kosovo has fallen 24 places in the new Reporters Without Borders index, putting it at the bottom of the region - even behind Serbia. This report is an indicator for the new government, which clearly outlines the steps needed to have press freedom, which is essential for any vibrant and sustainable democracy," the reaction says.
This is the second consecutive year that Kosovo has recorded a decline in this index, falling from 2024th place to 56th place in 75. In the index, Kosovo ranks worst compared to the Western Balkan countries. Albania ranks 80th, Montenegro 37th, North Macedonia 42nd, Bosnia and Herzegovina 86th and Serbia 96th.
The report says that media freedom is threatened by politicized regulation, insufficient access to public information and serious risks to the safety of journalists. It further states that journalists continue to be the target of political attacks.