ECPMF and partners urge government to release RTK budget and protect media freedom in Kosovo

6 November 2025

 

Dear Acting Prime Minister Mr. Albin Kurti,

 

We, the undersigned organisations, are writing to urge you to immediately take the necessary decision and actions to transfer the required budget to Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) so that employees can receive their salaries.

 

Today, RTK employees protested for the second time in a row due to delays in the payment of their salaries. We stand in full solidarity with them. RTK currently has no functional board, the director’s mandate has expired, and the situation has become critical.

 

We urge you to act without delay to ensure that employees receive their salaries, which is their basic right. Such a decision would also demonstrate the government’s commitment to addressing concerns highlighted in the recently released EU Country Report, which noted a lack of progress in media freedom and specifically mentioned the issue of the public broadcaster’s budget.

 

Sincerely,

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

International Press Institute (IPI)

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