Journalists in Kosovo staged a protest on Monday in support of Klan Kosova television in Pristina. This came after the Ministry of Industry decided to suspend the television station’s business license last week.
Carrying a large banner with the words “democracy dies in darkness” and constantly blowing whistles, the journalists marched from Zahir Pajaziti Square to Skanderbeg Square in the capital city.
To show solidarity with Klan Kosova television, several media outlets placed their work equipment, including cameras, tripods, and microphones, on the ground.
How did this situation unfold?
On July 28, the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Trade (MINT) rejected Klan Kosova’s appeal to reverse the revocation of its business certificate.
MINT had initially filed a criminal complaint against Klan Kosova on June 14, claiming that during the change of ownership, the company’s business certificate listed “Peja – Serbia and Gjakova – Serbia”.
Afterwards, the Kosovo Business Registration Agency, ARBK, revoked Klan Kosova’s business certificate, but later reinstated the suspension on June 22. However, a day later, ARBK revoked the June 21 decision.
This led to the reinstatement of the suspension of Klan Kosova’s business certificate on June 22.
Klan Kosova immediately appealed to the Commission for the Review of Appeals for Business Registration. On July 28, the commission rejected the appeal and confirmed the suspension of the television station’s business certificate. The commission emphasized that ARBK had “acted in accordance with the law when suspending Klan Kosova’s business certificate”.
The Ministry accused the television station of “violating the Constitution of Kosovo” by “presenting two cities in Kosovo, Peja, and Gjakova, as part of Serbia” in its registration documents.
MINT stated on July 28 that Klan Kosova had taken steps to correct the documentation, but the commission’s decision was not in their favor. Klan Kosova argued that the decision was arbitrary and unacceptable to democratic societies and states based on the rule of law.
The Ministry reaffirmed that its commission had closed the case and upheld the suspension of Klan Kosova’s business license. However, they also confirmed that Klan Kosova had the right to appeal the decision in the competent court.
The decision of the Ministry of Industry has sparked numerous reactions both within and outside the country.
Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union in Kosovo expressed “deep concern” over MINT’s decision to confirm the suspension of Klan Kosova’s business license.
While President Vjosa Osmani called for the issue to be addressed “by implementing the law, without interference, based on principles of impartiality and integrity”, Prime Minister Albin Kurti defended the decision, stating that enforcing the law against businessmen who violate it for financial gains does not mean attacking media freedom.
