The Albanian Journalists Union has strongly reacted after businessman Dionis Teqja filed a lawsuit against several media outlets and journalists over the removal of published articles.
In a public statement, the Union said the decision of the Tirana First Instance Court, which imposed financial penalties on media outlets and journalists over publications that the court considered damaging to the plaintiff, represents a rare case that deserves special attention.
According to the Albanian Journalists Union, the court’s decision ordering media outlets to delete the disputed publications creates a dangerous precedent against freedom of expression and conflicts with editorial independence and the sovereignty editors hold over publishing and distributing media content.
The Union also raised concerns over the fact that the case was reviewed in chambers without the presence of the parties involved, arguing that such a practice opens an important legal debate, particularly in cases involving journalists and media organizations.
“The judicial panel should have clarified on what kind of media expertise it based its request,” the statement said.
The Union announced that it has already contacted legal offices of the European Commission, the European Union, and European journalists’ organizations, requesting legal consultation and assessment of the ruling in line with the principles of non interference and protection of freedom of expression in Albania’s media environment.
According to the statement, the Tirana Court of General Jurisdiction reviewed on April 24, 2026, civil case no. 12320 filed by Dionis Teqja against several media companies and journalists, including Hekla shpk, Zëri Media shpk, MCN 24 shpk, Media Solution shpk, Dosja shpk, Vox News shpk, Newsbomb shpk, EM Media shpk, as well as journalists Ariglon Pali and Arsen Rusta.
The ruling reportedly ordered the defendants to pay significant financial penalties, with the Union describing it as the first decision of its kind carrying substantial monetary sanctions over alleged defamatory publications. The Union specifically highlighted the financial penalty imposed on journalist Arsen Rusta and weblajm.com, describing it as a record amount in Albanian legal practice for such cases.
The Albanian Journalists Union said it has requested an independent legal review of the decision and announced that it will publish a broader legal analysis of the ruling and its implications in the coming days.
