Albanian Constitutional Court Upholds Press Freedom in Landmark Ruling for Journalist Elton Qyno

April 29, 2025 – Albania –

In a significant victory for press freedom, the Constitutional Court of Albania ruled unanimously on April 22, 2025, in favor of investigative journalist Elton Qyno, overturning previous court decisions that had authorized the seizure of his electronic equipment and data. The Court found that the actions taken by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) violated constitutional protections of freedom of expression and the confidentiality of journalistic sources.

The case began in December 2023 when SPAK seized Qyno’s personal and professional devices following his publication of articles on a high-profile investigation into organized crime. Authorities claimed his reporting contained confidential information related to an ongoing investigation and pressured him to reveal his sources.

Qyno challenged the legality of the seizures, arguing that they infringed upon his rights and the fundamental principle of source protection. The Constitutional Court agreed, stating that the measures were disproportionate and lacked a clear legal basis, emphasizing that any infringement on press freedoms must be justified by an overriding public interest and used only as a last resort.

The Court ordered the destruction of all data extracted from Qyno’s devices, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding journalistic sources to maintain the public’s right to information. Media freedom organizations, including the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and Media Defence, welcomed the ruling as a landmark decision that strengthens press freedom in Albania.

This ruling sets a precedent for the protection of journalistic sources in Albania, aligning the country’s legal standards with international norms and reinforcing the essential role of a free press in a democratic society.

Reference –

https://www.mediadefence.org/news/albanian-court-upholds-confidentiality-of-sources-elton-qyno/

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