Prishtina, 8 June 2026 \u2013 The Kosovo Law Institute (KLI) held a press conference at which it published the report \u201cWhen the Regulator Violates the Rules: The Unlawfulness of Fines Imposed by the IMC for Media Violations\u201d.<\/p>\n
The report was presented by KLI Deputy Executive Director Betim Musliu, KLI Senior Researcher Gzim Shala, and KLI Executive Director Ehat Miftaraj.<\/p>\n
At the outset, Musliu presented the fines imposed by the IMC against media outlets since the institution became functional again.<\/p>\n
Among other things, he emphasized that these fines mainly concern media violations during the election campaigns of the 2025 electoral processes and the early elections of 7 June 2026.<\/p>\n
The reasons why all these decisions are unlawful were elaborated by Shala, who divided the IMC decisions into two groups.<\/p>\n
Regarding the decisions related to alleged violations during the 2025 elections, Shala stated that they are unlawful because they were taken long after the deadlines set by IMC Regulation 2024\/03 had expired.<\/p>\n
As for all decisions, including those related to last year\u2019s election campaigns and the most recent campaign for the early elections of 7 June 2026, Shala emphasized that they were issued through a procedure in which the IMC Executive Office played an important role. According to KLI, this office has for years been led by an acting Chief Executive Officer beyond the deadlines permitted by law.<\/p>\n
Miftaraj, meanwhile, stated that the situation with the IMC regarding unlawful fines is the result of institutional failure.<\/p>\n
He first mentioned the Assembly of Kosovo, stressing that it had failed to keep the IMC with a functional quorum. He added that responsibility also lies with the IMC, which has not appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the IMC Executive Office, but continues to keep this position filled on an acting basis.<\/p>\n