The Office of the European Union in Kosovo, through a ceremony, distributed the EU investigative journalism awards for 2024. Kreshnik Gashi and Behar Mustafa from Kallxo.com were awarded the first prize for their research on corruption at the local and central level. that enabled hundreds of illegal constructions in the protected area in Brezovica.

The second prize went to journalist Alberta Hashani from the Oath of Justice with the research "How ex-prosecutor Metush Biraj allegedly took bribes to fail the indictment for 130 kilograms of marijuana". Meanwhile, the third prize was awarded to Dafina Halili from Kosovo2.0 with the article "Sexual harassment goes unpunished at the University of Prishtina" and the editor of K2.0, Aulonë Kadriu and the journalist, Dardan Hoti with the article "If the videos come out, I'm going to lose them all".

These awards were shared by the new head of the EU office in Kosovo, Aivo Orav.

In a speech, Orav spoke about the challenges of being an investigative journalist in Kosovo, while emphasizing that there is a need for improvements so that journalists can work freely and safely.

He said that EU support for journalism is very important not only in Kosovo, but everywhere in the Western Balkans.

"Many media still remain very dependent on donors and some of them rely on business interests. And as you know, even many journalists still do not have a work contract, or only have a service contract, and this exposes them or you to pressure 00:42 . What we have also noticed is that there are very few women in decision-making positions in the media here in Kosovo. Trust in journalism can also be undermined by attacks, threats, statements... by senior officials or business representatives. Improvements are needed to ensure that journalists can work freely and safely. Another big challenge is misinformation. The digital age has changed a lot, and it is much easier to come up with false narratives and spread them. The EU has supported a study here in Kosovo on disinformation, and the study reveals that significant weaknesses are still there to counter false narratives...EU support for journalism, and investigative journalism is very important not only here in Kosovo, but as already said everywhere in the Western Balkans", Orav said.

Journalist Behar Mustafa said that the awarding of this prize is an additional motivation to work further with such stories, for which he says that the state is also acting on the basis of the research being carried out.

"For me as well as for my colleagues who worked on this story together with Kreshnik, this is of great significance. It gives us an additional motivation to work harder and more in these stories as Brezovica was, but also in other stories. Recently, after our research that we published a few years ago, an indictment was filed against two former ministers. The basis of this indictment was the research that we did and this pushed us to work harder this type of journalism. When we see that the state is also acting on the basis of the stories that we publish... The destruction that happened in Brezovica is terrible, irreparable, 800 villas and hotels were built there, but the destruction that was done to them the environment will never recover." Mustafa said.

Journalist Alberta Hashani, winner of the second prize for investigative journalism of the EU, said that the distribution of this prize directly supports justice and therefore a healthier society.

"When there is a lack of justice within the justice bodies themselves, then of course investigative journalism becomes a door of hope aimed at uncovering the truth and seeking accountability. Even the support of investigative journalism in this case from the office of the European Union through this competitive professional competition it is direct support in justice and therefore in a healthier society", Hashani said.

Journalist Dafina Halili also expressed her appreciation on the occasion of the third award for Investigative Journalism. She said that this award is a kind of encouragement to continue the research which is centered on human rights.

"We always feel good when our work is appreciated. It is also a kind of additional encouragement to continue working on research in this case, especially when it comes to Kosovo2.0, especially research that has human rights at the center. We think that with this we have managed to give a new dimension to the way we see investigative journalism in Kosovo, which is always through organized crime or investigation, abuse of power at the government level, but never within the family or educational system or in the workplace, as in the case of sexual harassment at the University of Pristina", emphasized Halil.

Even Aulonë Kadriu from Kosovo2.0 said that the distribution of this award by the EU office in Kosovo is a great honor and an inspiration to continue further with investigative journalism. She emphasized that the role of investigative journalism is extremely important.

"This award, like any other award that recognizes this type of journalism, is a great honor and an inspiration for us to continue to cover these topics in the future, specifically the role of investigative journalism, rights-based slow journalism of man as produced by Kosovo 2.0 is extremely important because it is a type of journalism that places the stories of people, the stories of victims, whose experiences we do not usually see either in the media or in general public discourse. Kadriu said.

Meanwhile, Dardan Hoti has added that this award is very important for the research that has been done.

According to him, this confirms their commitment to good investigative journalism.

"This award is very important for us as journalists, for the research that we have done first. It is normal that every article that I have done together with Aulona, ​​but also as a freelance journalist, when we do not think that we will get an award again late. But this once again confirms our work, once again confirms our commitment to good investigative journalism." Hoti pointed out.