Sandro Gozi: Albania’s European future requires real protection of free expression

The European Democratic Party is expressing growing concern over the restrictions affecting activists and independent media in Albania.

Over the past few days, hundreds of Instagram accounts linked to activists have reportedly been restricted or disabled. The Instagram account of Euronews Albania was subsequently blocked, and the Facebook page of independent media outlet Citizens.al has also been suspended.

EDP Secretary General Sandro Gozi said:

“For days, Prime Minister Edi Rama has found the time to criticise the European Democratic Party, describe protesters as ‘agitators’ and even comment on the visual style of our social media posts. Yet, to our knowledge, he has not publicly asked Meta to explain why the accounts of hundreds of Albanian activists were restricted — or why the Instagram account of Euronews Albania has now been blocked. And now the Facebook page of Citizens.al, an independent Albanian media outlet, has also been suspended.”

Gozi described the situation as deeply concerning and stressed that the Prime Minister of a democratic country seeking EU membership should be among the first to defend freedom of expression and media freedom, especially when critical and independent voices are affected.

“Rather than questioning those who raise legitimate concerns, he should join them in seeking transparency and answers,” Gozi said.

The EDP Secretary General also recalled Albania’s own history of dictatorship, censorship and repression, arguing that restrictions affecting journalists, activists and citizens should be treated with particular vigilance.

The European Democratic Party has written directly to Meta and formally raised the issue with the European Commission.

“Journalists and civil society are asking for answers. Euronews Albania and Citizens.al are asking for answers. It is therefore legitimate to ask why the Prime Minister, who has spoken so extensively about this controversy, has not publicly joined those calls for clarification,” Gozi said.

He concluded:

“Albania’s European future deserves better than political confrontation over legitimate questions. European integration is not simply about opening negotiating chapters. It is about upholding democracy, pluralism, freedom of expression and media freedom every day — especially when doing so may be politically inconvenient.”