Kosovo: Investigative journalist brutally assaulted

Credit: AGK

 26-02-2021

Kosovo Investigative journalist Visar Duriqi was left with a broken nose and teeth following an assault by three masked men on 25 February. The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ/IFJ) joined their affiliate in Kosovo, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK), in condemning the brutal attack.

Visar Duriqi, a journalist at online news portal Insajderi, was on his way home after attending a live TV debate, shortly after midnight, when three unknown people wearing masks assaulted him in front of his apartment. Duriqi suffered severe injuries and was taken to the hospital. The police has launched an investigation into the case.

Visar Duriqi covers topics related to religious extremism, corruption and radical groups in Kosovo. He has authored several episodes exposing crime and corruption for the investigative programme InDoks. Since 2014, he has received numerous death threats.

AJK President of the Board, Gentiana Begolli Pustina, described the physical attack on Visar Duriqi as one of the most serious cases in Kosovo.

“It is unacceptable and we find the increase of such attacks disturbing. We consider that this attack is not only causing unrest in our community and freedom of expression, but it also disrupting the environment for exercising journalism in a democratic society. We encourage our colleagues not to let these cowardly acts silence them”, she said.

The EFJ and IFJ express their support to Visar Duriqi and urge the Kosovo authorities to resolve this case as soon as possible. “We expect a strong signal from the authorities as such attack can’t go unpunished,” they said.