TIRANA – The Director of Citynews.al online portal and Radio Best, Elvi Fundo was attacked by unidentified assailants in one of Tirana’s bustling areas on Wednesday. He was consequently hospitalized, ATA reports.
Several people condemn the attack.
“I trust the authorities will swiftly investigate the attack and will bring the responsible to justice,” said OSCE representative Dunja Mijatović.
OSCE representative welcomed the condemnation of the attack by Premier Edi Rama, by the Journalist Union and Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) noting also the launch of the investigation.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama condemned on Thursday the act of violence against the journalist Elvi Fundo. He demanded a thorough investigation of the crime.
In addition, Rama expressed disgust at the way DP rushes to politicize this act. “I strongly condemn the act of violence against the journalist Elvi Fundo. Thorough investigation of this crime as soon as possible. Nothing but disgust at the DP attempt to politicize this act,” Rama wrote on Facebook.
The Audiovisual Media Authority, AMA, expressed on Wednesday dismay over the brutal beating of the journalist Elvi Fundo and also appeals to the authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.
In a press release, AMA stresses that the director of Radio Best and online platform CityNews.al, the journalist Elvi Fundo was brutally hit by unknown people in one of Tirana’s bustling places.
AMA describes this grave act as a serious threat to the media and free speech.
“Fundo, a very active journalist in radio broadcasts, has been critical of developments in the country. Attacking an active media employee in public is abhorrent and a wake –up call to democracy,” AMA stresses.
Meanwhile, AMA appeals to public order authorities to launch an investigation of the circumstances surrounding this grave incident in order for the perpetrators to be held reprehensible. According to AMA, it would be the best signal for the functioning of the rule of law to protect the free media at any cost and also discourage and deter transgressors of the law.