Three leading press freedom organisations have called on Kosovo’s Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti to immediately approve and transfer the budget of public broadcaster Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) so employees can be paid.
In a joint letter sent on Thursday, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI) urged the government to act “without delay,” warning that the situation at RTK has become critical amid salary payment delays.
The appeal follows a second consecutive protest by RTK staff over unpaid wages. According to the organisations, RTK is currently operating without a functional board, while the director’s mandate has expired, deepening uncertainty at the public service broadcaster.
“Employees must receive their salaries, which is their basic right,” the groups wrote, adding that swift action would signal the government’s commitment to resolving issues highlighted in the European Commission’s latest Country Report on Kosovo. The report noted a lack of progress on media freedom and explicitly cited concerns over RTK’s budget.
The signatories expressed solidarity with RTK employees and stressed that stable, predictable financing is essential for safeguarding editorial independence and public trust in the broadcaster.
Source: EFJ
