The detention of two journalists in Tetovo has triggered strong criticism from opposition parties and reignited concerns over press freedom in North Macedonia.
Journalist Nevrij Ademi from the local news portal Tetovasot and the portal’s owner, Rami Mislimi, were held for more than two hours at a Tetovo police station after reportedly requesting access to public information. According to opposition parties, the police acted without a prosecutor’s order and attempted to seize the journalists’ mobile phones.
The Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), the main Albanian opposition party, condemned the incident as “a flagrant violation of journalists’ guaranteed rights,” warning that the government has repeatedly resorted to pressure and intimidation against the press. “The Tetovo case shows that police are being used for clan and family interests,” the party said in a statement.
The Alliance for Albanians (AA), Tetovo branch, accused Mayor Bilall Kasami of ordering the arrest for political motives. “When police are mobilized not to protect public order but to shield the personal interests of local authorities, we have entered the dangerous territory of autocracy,” the party said, calling on civil society and the diplomatic community to closely monitor the case.
Journalist Furkan Saliu claimed on social media that Ademi’s detention was initiated through family connections inside the police, without any official documents. He described the attempted confiscation of phones as “the clearest sign of the politicization of the police” and “misuse of the Interior Ministry for political ends.”
“This is not only an attack on Nevrij Ademi and Tetovasot, but an attack on journalism as a whole. It is a signal of a return to the dark days of authoritarian rule, with systematic pressure on free speech,” Saliu wrote.
The incident has sparked outrage among intellectuals and activists in Tetovo, who fear it could set a dangerous precedent for the treatment of critical journalists.
Local authorities and the Tetovo police have not yet commented on the accusations. The Interior Ministry has also remained silent on the legality of the detention and the procedures followed.