Conference "Role of the Judiciary in Protecting Freedom of the Media and Combating SLAPP Lawsuits"

On June 17, 2025, the Academy of Justice in cooperation with the Council of Europe - the PRO - FREX project, within the Continuous Training Program, is organizing the Conference on The Role of the Judiciary in Protecting Freedom of the Media and Combating SLAPP Lawsuits.

The workshop is being moderated by Mr. Tankut Soykan - Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Pristina.

In the opening speech, Mr. Enver Fejzullahu, Director of the Academy of Justice, Ms. Albina Shabani Rama, President of the Basic Court in Pristina, Mr. Zejnullah Gashi, Chief Prosecutor at the Basic Prosecution Office in Pristina, and Mr. Xhemajl Rexha – President of the Kosovo Association of Journalists, highly appreciated the importance of SLAPP lawsuits, and at the same time expressed gratitude to the organizers for enabling this Conference.

The presentation of the campaign “Journalists matter” began with Ms. Flutura Kusari - Consultant, Council of Europe. It further continued with Experiences with physical and online violence, presented by Ms. Adelina Ahmeti - Journalist - kallxo.com.

The workshop is being delivered by two panels; the first panel led the discussions on the Role of the Judicial System in Protecting Freedom of the Media and Safety of Journalists, presented by:

• Dren Rogova - Judge, Commercial Court
• Habibe Statovci Salihi - Prosecutor, Special Prosecution
• Arrita Rezniqi - Civil Society Activist, Kosovo Institute for Justice.

The second panel led discussions on the Implementation of Council of Europe Standards at the Local Level, presented by:

• Faton Ademi - Judge, Court of Appeals
• Baki Kelani - Spokesperson, Kosovo Police
• Flutura Kusari - Consultant, Council of Europe

Highlight of this Conference on Protection of the Freedom of the Media is on its significance to protect democracy, transparency and the right to information in combating SLAPP lawsuits.

Participants in this conference are judges, prosecutors, journalists and civil society.