Albania Journalists Investigated for 'Failed Coup'

The commission has sought the records of Filip Cakulli, the director of the investigative programme Fiks Fare on Top-Channel TV; Sokol Balla, the anchor of the popular show Top-Story on Top Channel TV; Mero Baze, the publisher of the daily TemA; and Andi Bushati, the anchor of a show on Vizion Plust TV called “Zone e Lire.”

All four journalists are considered government critics. Cakuli, Baze and Bushati have previously been the target of verbal attacks by Berisha. 

The parliamentary commission, set up by the ruling Democratic Party, has been tasked with investigating the January 21 unrest in Tirana. It has been rejected by the opposition as unlawful.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha has declared that the violent anti-government protests in Tirana on January 21, in which three people died and dozens were injured, were part of a failed coup d'état.

The protest turned into a riot when several hundred marchers attacked the police barricade set up to protect the prime minister’s office, using sticks, stones and Molotov cocktails. Police responded with tear gas, water cannons and later with live ammunition fire, leaving three dead and dozens wounded.

Berisha has declared with increasing intensity over the past week that he was the victim of a failed coup attempt, and has vowed to punish those responsible. He has accused not only the opposition as being part of the coup but also the general prosecutor, the head of the secret service and President Bamir Topi.

The commission has also requested the phone records of these high officials, while the government has blocked an investigation by the general prosecutor into the murder of the three protesters during the unrest.