Mustafa: Kurti would not have come to power without the support of many media outlets

Former Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has reacted after Kosovo’s drop of 24 places in the media freedom index published by the international organization “Reporters Without Borders”, calling the current situation worrying and accusing the Kurti Government of direct responsibility.

“The current government in office, hand on heart, would not have come to power without the support and lobbying of many media outlets, sometimes outside any ethical and professional criteria,” Mustafa wrote on Facebook. He added that citizens “did not vote for the results,” but for “the perception that the media created for them.”

Mustafa also wrote about changes in media behavior on the eve of the February 9 elections, saying that some media outlets supported opposition entities, not because they loved them, but out of fear of, as he called it, “the authoritarian regime of the VV.”

He called for more professionalism and responsibility within the media community, emphasizing that “not only Kurti’s rule has damaged free speech and democracy, but also the media itself, which has replaced professionalism with political worship.”

“I consider that a little more professional behavior and responsibility for free speech will help the media avoid the shovels of politics. Kosovo bears the consequences,” Mustafa concluded.

Kosovo is ranked 99th out of 180 countries in the annual press freedom index for 2025, marking the biggest decline compared to the previous year, when it was in 75th place.