The SafeJournalists Network is closely following a recent court decision in Albania concerning an interim measure requiring the removal of, and blocking access to, media content before a final judgment has been issued.
On 24 April 2026, the Tirana Court of First Instance issued a decision on securing the claim in a civil claim for non-pecuniary damage brought by businessman Dionis Teqja against ten online media outlets and portals. According to the decision, the claim seeks EUR 500,000 from one outlet and EUR 20,000 from each of the other nine outlets, for a total of approximately EUR 680,000 across ten media defendants.
The case concerns reporting on a civil/commercial court procedure involving the claimant. Some reporting allegedly framed a civil procedural summons as a wanted notice. In Albanian public usage, the term “wanted” is commonly associated with a criminal wanted status or a police search, whereas the underlying court development pertains to a civil procedural notification. The court states that the defendants allegedly used sensational and false headlines and refers to the disputed content as articles with misleading headlines.
SafeJournalists Network stresses that court reporting must be accurate, verified, and clearly contextualized, including in headlines and republications. The right to reputation is a legitimate interest, and individuals are entitled to seek legal remedies when they believe a report has been false, misleading, or harmful.
At the same time, restrictions affecting media content must be necessary, proportionate, narrowly tailored, and carefully justified. In this case, the court ordered the defendants to immediately remove the articles from portals, social platforms, and any other digital environment where they had been published, and to block public access to them until the case is finally adjudicated.
The Network is concerned with the procedural setting, scope, and timing of the measure. The decision was taken in chambers, without the parties present, before the case was examined on the merits. The order applies across websites, social media, and other digital environments, without clearly distinguishing between the original disputed wording, corrected versions, republications, or related content, and without a defined time limit beyond the conclusion of the merits proceedings.
The court decision notes that securing the claim does not constitute a judgment on the merits and is based on a preliminary assessment. However, the use of terms such as “untrue” and “misleading” articles, along with misleading headlines, at the interim stage raises concerns that judicial reasoning may appear to characterize the disputed reporting before the civil claim has been fully examined.
SafeJournalists Network does not prejudge the accuracy of the disputed reporting or the merits of the civil claim. Its concern is focused on the proportionality of a judicial measure that restricts public access to media content before final adjudication.
The Network emphasizes that any restriction on media content should be assessed in line with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights on prior restraints, online archives, and proportionate remedies in reputation-related cases. Less restrictive measures, including correction, clarification, right of reply, or other targeted remedies, should be considered where appropriate.
This case also reinforces the Network’s long-standing recommendations to align civil remedies in Albania for media-related disputes with European standards on freedom of expression and the protection of journalism. This includes reviewing whether civil procedure provides sufficient safeguards against disproportionate interim restrictions on media content, particularly where multiple outlets are sued together, high compensation claims are involved, and removal orders are issued before a final ruling. Such safeguards should reflect Council of Europe standards on the safety of journalists and countering SLAPPs, as well as relevant EU standards in the context of Albania’s accession process.
The Network also reiterates its long-standing call to strengthen non-judicial remedies and professional accountability mechanisms. Effective right-of-reply procedures, visible correction practices, independent self-regulatory mechanisms, careful verification before republication, and editorial responsibility for headlines and legal terminology are essential to address reputational harm without resorting to overly broad restrictions on media content.
SafeJournalists Network will continue to monitor the case, including any appeal or further proceedings.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica – Tirana, May 7, 2026
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
