Kosovo Journalists Association Appoints New Leader

Zekirja Shabani from the daily newspaper Tribuna was appointed new head of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo after a vote by around 200 members.

The journalists from various media outlets also voted for eight new board members.

The vote followed the resignation of Liridona Lluka-Gashi who resigned after deep dissatisfaction among journalists over her work as a leader of the association. She faced allegations that she had publicly supported the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo, although she insisted she was not linked to the party.

The EU Progress Report on Kosovo for 2013 noted that while the association “was active in condemning attacks against media and journalists throughout 2012... following the appointment of a new board in April, several board members left, citing close ties between the chairwoman and business and political representatives”.

The association is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation, which aims to promote and improve the position of journalists in society. As well as electing a new leadership, the members also voted to change the name of the body from the Association of Professional Journalists of Kosovo to the Association of Journalists of Kosovo.