Troll of the Month: High-level officials Edi Rama and Erion Veliaj
March 7, 2025
The Balkan Troll of the Month is an individual, a group of individuals or a media outlet that spreads hate speech based on gender, ethnicity, religion, or other diversity categories. The Balkan Troll is selected based on hate speech incidents identified across the Western Balkans region.
On February 11, 2025, Prime Minister Edi Rama accused BIRN (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network) Albania of distorting his statements regarding the arrest of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj. Rama described BIRN as a “frëngji” (a narrow slit in fortress walls) and criticised their investigative work. His language delegitimised the press, portraying journalism as an enemy rather than a pillar of democracy.
BIRN’s article, titled “Edi Rama: SPAK Has Gone Off the Tracks, Veliaj Will Not Be Dismissed,” reported on Rama’s response to Veliaj’s arrest, in which he expressed concerns about “a reasonable doubt of an investigation outside constitutional boundaries and a detention in violation of democratic standards”. The Prime Minister’s rhetoric painted investigative journalism as a hostile force, eroding the role of the press as a pillar of democracy and as a watchdog.
Following this, on February 12, Rama escalated the attack, calling media discussions a “political-media swamp,” and comparing journalism to “medieval market courts”. His rhetoric only served to foster hostility towards journalism and undermine the importance of independent reporting.
Following his arrest, Mayor Erion Veliaj also attacked journalists, calling them “dogs” and dismissing their reports as “sewer channels,” thus shifting the narrative from the government to the press, all while simultaneously undermining the media. Notably, he was making these public statements from prison, using social media to continue influencing citizens while incarcerated.
Subsequently, on the 20th of February, Prime Minister Rama held a meeting in Skanderbeg Square which was presented as a “cultural event” on the documents submitted to the Central Election Commission but instead turned into a political meeting with Tirana Municipality employees.
The event was originally announced as the opening ceremony for the project “Tirana, Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2025,” which was initially planned to take place on March 12. However, instead of a cultural ceremony with the participation of foreign authorities and citizens, the event turned into a political gathering with municipal employees, raising concerns about the misuse of state resources and the manipulation of official documents. During his speech, Rama criticised SPAK, emphasising that their mistakes could destroy people’s lives, families, and political interests. SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure responsible for investigating high-level cases of organised crime and corruption.
These series of events tackle a number of issues including the attack on press freedom alongside the delegitimisation and threat towards independent journalism. The language used by both Rama and Veliaj seeks to discredit, intimidate, and silence critical journalism, undermining the role of the press in holding power to account. Furthermore, dehumanising rhetoric, like calling journalists “dogs,” incites hostility, making reporters vulnerable to harassment and threats.
Independent journalism and press freedom are fundamental pillars of a healthy democracy, ensuring that the public is informed, public officials are held accountable, and power is kept in check. Without a free and independent press, the ability to scrutinise government actions, expose corruption, and protect human rights is severely compromised. Furthermore, political figures who hold a position of power and influence should not be making enemies of the press nor pointing fingers at others to take away the focus of their actions. Instead, they should take responsibility, remain transparent, and uphold the trust of the citizens they represent.