Media Group Denounces Assault on Albanian Journalist

According to information received by SEEMO, Piro Nase, the journalist who heads the regional branch of the Albanian Union of Journalists in Gjirokastra, was physically and verbally assaulted by two alleged perpetrators on the evening of November 14.

Nase, who works for the newspaper Panorama and for TV Planet, was allegedly assaulted right after parking his car near his home. It is alleged that two unknown persons suddenly appeared and hit and punched him in the head. His face and jaw showed signs of bruising the following morning.

Statements such as "Let's see if you will be more careful with what you write in that newspaper after tonight" allegedly accompanied the assault.

Commenting on the incident, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said in a press release: "SEEMO strongly condemns the physical assault on Nase and regards the attack as a blatant breach of press freedom. This was a criminal act which also constitutes an intolerable act of aggression against the fabric of society."

"The press freedom situation in Albania remains distressing; the repeated occurrences of vicious physical attacks on journalists, such as this one, are particularly troubling. It is of paramount importance that the competent authorities investigate this assault and find the alleged perpetrators," Vujovic added.

SEEMO, a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South and East Europe, is an affiliate of the International Press Institute, IPI.