VLORA/ Attempt on Taulant Shyti On page 2

Erieta of UNICEF with her husband On page 3 Erieta Avdyli together with her husband Dritan Avdyli

Absurd and blind violence against Gazeta Shqiptare reporter Patrik Sadikaj. Yesterday at around 10:30, the commander of the group of police officers guarding the court of first instance in Tirana personally punched and kicked our journalist, knocking him to the ground. And the reason is unimaginable: “You’re not going into the Court because I don’t believe you’re a journalist... you’re so short and small! Get lost, you piece of shit, I’ll fucking... I’ll do your mother, I’ll do your sister... you pieces of shit, you journalists are driving us crazy...”. We ask our dear readers to excuse the language above, but only this way can you better understand and experience firsthand the brutality, blindness, idiocy and, above all, shortsightedness of certain people vested with power. It is true that our reporter, beaten yesterday, is relatively short; it is true that he is much shorter than the police commander, who is over two metres tall. But can a journalist—or a citizen who is not a journalist—be beaten because he is short and slight?! The reporter beaten yesterday, Patrik Sadikaj, carries a press card authorizing him to practise his profession. The violence against the reporter was committed openly in the lobby of the Court of First Instance, at around 10:30, and in front of colleagues from other media organizations. This is the second case in seven days of people armed with pistols provided to them by Spartak Poçi’s Ministry using violence against the media. A week ago, several guards brutally attacked and beat a cameraman from TV Klan.