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Burning of journalist Sami Curri's car, Police still have no suspects even after 6 months

2026-11-13 16:49:00Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Burning of journalist Sami Curri's car, Police still have no suspects even

Ten international and regional media freedom organizations called on Albanian authorities on Friday to reveal the results of the investigation into the burning of journalist Sami Curri's car, stressing that six months after the event, the issue remains unanswered.

In a joint statement, media freedom organizations, including the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the International Press Institute (IPI), the SafeJournalists network, and the Journalists Association of Albania, raised the alarm over the protracted procedures by law enforcement bodies and the consequences this has.

“We, the undersigned organizations committed to media and journalist freedom, express serious concern about the lack of clarity and tangible progress in the investigation into the alleged deliberate burning of journalist Sami Curri’s car in Bulqizë, Albania, on April 26, 2026,” the statement said.

"More than six months later, fundamental questions regarding the findings of the expertise, the progress of the investigations, and accountability remain unanswered," it further added.

On May 4, during an institutional discussion, representatives of the State Police and the Dibra Prosecutor's Office committed to investigating the case. According to the organizations' statement, in an official response on July 28, 2026, the Dibra Prosecutor's Office confirmed that it had registered criminal proceedings and that a possible connection to his work as a journalist was among the investigative leads. However, at that time, the pyrotechnic expertise necessary to determine the cause of the fire had not yet been completed.

On November 5, Curri submitted another written request to learn the results of the expertise, information on the progress of the investigation, and the return of his vehicle, which remains impounded. To date, he has not received any confirmation of the scientific findings or any significant update on the investigation.

"We call on the Dibra Prosecutor's Office and the State Police to clarify the status of the legal expertise, provide the journalist with meaningful information on the progress of the investigation, address the continued impoundment of his vehicle, and ensure that the possible connection to his reporting is fully investigated," the organizations emphasize, demanding that the investigation go as far as identifying and holding accountable the perpetrators and any individual who may have ordered the act.

According to media freedom organizations, the prolonged insecurity raises broader questions about the effectiveness of security mechanisms for journalists in Albania.

“When a suspected attack may be linked to journalistic work, authorities have an obligation to investigate that possibility effectively. Failure to do so risks reinforcing impunity and creating a chilling effect on independent journalism, particularly at the local level,” the statement warned.

The incident occurred in the early hours of April 26, 2026, at around 02:58, when the Ford Fiesta vehicle owned by Curri was engulfed in flames while parked about 30 meters from the building where he lives in Bulqizë. The fire did not cause damage to other nearby vehicles, while the Dibra police announced immediately after the incident that it was initially suspected of deliberate arson.

With about a decade of experience in journalism, Curri has collaborated with BIRN and runs the local media outlet Bulqiza Ime, consistently reporting on suspected misuse of public funds, local governance, the environment, and other issues of public interest in the Dibra region.

Immediately after the attack in April, Curri linked the arson directly to his professional work, describing it as a deliberate message to intimidate him, but stressed that he would not retreat from his mission in service of the public interest.


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