Albanian Premier Edi Rama reacted to the country’s 20-places drop in the Reporters without Borders World Press Freedom Index for 2022. Albania is ranked in the 103^rd place out of 180 countries, which is an all-time low. However, Rama considered the report as a lie, saying there is no politically-motivated attack against journalists in Albania.

“I know my opinion will be classified as an attack, pressure, aggression against the media, but I find it impossible to remain silent when I see how someone laughs at the freedom of speech, and how the freedom of press becomes the freedom of oppression, by oppressing on facts, people, and the country on its behalf”, Rama wrote.

“Journalists victims of police brutality in Albania? What a lie! The journalists that criticize the government are faced with political attacks? What a fantasy! Ethical self-regulation in the Albanian press? What a joke! Only the headline is missing: Complaints for the lack of freedom because we don’t know what to do with freedom”.

“The is no intimidated media in Albania, nor journalist obstructed in their freedoms. As a matter of fact, in Albania are growingly more victims of defamations, lies, and fake news. There’s talking about trials of journalists, when there are none. There’s talk about the anti-defamation package, when it doesn’t exist”.