Greek authorities detained Albanian media teams, including journalists from Tv Klan and A2CNN, for over three hours at the Kapshtica border, delaying their entry into Greece. The journalists were on their way to report on Prime Minister Edi Rama’s meeting with Albanians living and working in the Thessaloniki region.

Why is this important: The incident is unprecedented. Journalists’ passports were confiscated, and they were unexpectedly asked to present a special permit issued by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enter Greece. Such a requirement had never been imposed on journalists covering political events or reporting on social, economic, or political developments in the neighboring country. This situation raises concerns about media freedom and potential diplomatic tensions between Albania and Greece.

Context: The journalists were finally allowed to proceed after Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs officials intervened and held continuous talks with their Greek counterparts. The three-hour delay drew widespread criticism from Albanian journalist associations. Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that the reasons behind the Greek authorities’ actions are unknown to the Albanian government. He noted that Greek journalists have never faced such obstacles when reporting from Albania, underscoring the unusual nature of this event.

What did Rama say: Rama also highlighted another troubling case involving a journalist who has been banned from entering Greece for 12 years. The journalist in question produced a series of documentaries on the history of border regions between Greece and Albania, areas that were part of Albania before 1913 and are still inhabited by Albanians who, according to the documentaries, have faced pressures to change their names and fear speaking their language. Rama stated that the Albanian government will formally request that the Greek government lift this ban on the journalist.