Researcher Taulant Muka has raised accusations of censorship against the investigative show "Inside Story", broadcast on Top Channel, claiming that several parts that dealt with academic plagiarism and the university career of Interior Minister Ervin Demo were removed from the version published on YouTube.
In his public response, Muka claims that the part where he and Rigels Xhemollari discussed what they consider plagiarism in Demo's academic papers was deleted from the online version of the show. According to him, parts that dealt with similar issues regarding Evis Kushi and Ogerta Manastirliu were also removed.
The researcher links this alleged intervention to possible pressure from the Minister of Interior, including Prime Minister Edi Rama in his accusations. However, the published response does not present evidence to confirm that the removal of the parts was carried out on the orders of or under pressure from the aforementioned officials.
Muka considers this case a serious concern for media freedom and the independence of investigative journalism. According to him, the show addressed the unfulfilled promises of the University Pact and the issues that, in his assessment, have affected the quality and integrity of higher education in Albania.
"This is a serious scandal that shows once again how the independent and professional work of journalists is subject to censorship whenever it affects the interests of the government," Muka wrote in his reaction.
