By The SafeJournalists Network expresses concern over the detention of Vjolanda Peca, a journalist with Citizens.al, a non-profit media outlet focused on citizen journalism in Albania. Peca was detained while reporting on the protest outside the Albanian Parliament in Tirana on 23 July 2026.
The incident occurred during a civic protest outside Parliament, part of the ongoing citizens’ movement otherwise known as the “Flamingo Revolution”. The movement began in defence of the Vjosa–Narta protected landscape and later set out wider political demands, including the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Protesters gathered on 23 July to coincide with Parliament’s final plenary sitting before the summer recess. As tensions escalated, some demonstrators threw eggs and bottles at police and shook the barriers around Parliament. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
While filming the protest at the scene, Peca was asked by police officers to stop recording and was then forcibly taken to Police Station No. 1, where she was held for more than two hours before being released without charge.
Journalists covering protests perform an essential public-interest role by documenting both the events and the conduct of the authorities. Their presence at the scene must not lead to their treatment as participants in the protest. Any restriction on their work or liberty must have a clear legal basis and be necessary and proportionate.
The incident also raises questions about the implementation of the State Police’s Protocol for the Safety of Journalists, adopted in May 2025. The Protocol recognizes journalists’ right to report, photograph and film during protests, including police operations, and requires officers to protect their safety and refrain from obstructing their work.
The SafeJournalists Network calls on the Albanian State Police to clarify the legal basis and procedural status under which Peca was held, whether officers were aware that she was working as a journalist, whether she was informed of her rights, and whether her telephone, recordings or other journalistic materials were accessed or examined.
Journalists must be able to report on public assemblies and police actions safely and without interference. The SafeJournalists Network expects a timely and transparent clarification from the relevant authorities and will continue to follow the case.
Every attack on journalists is an attack on democracy, the public interest, and fundamental human rights.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica, 23 July 2026
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
