Kosovo’s Constitutional Court has annulled the controversial Law on the Independent Media Commission (IMC), marking a significant victory for media freedom and civil society in the country. The Court found that several provisions of the law undermined the independence of the IMC, including the method of proposing its members, criteria for dismissing the chairperson and members, and the regulation of sanctions. Additionally, the Court emphasized the requirement that at least five out of eleven commission members must be women. This decision follows a three-year campaign by media lawyer Flutura Kusari, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, and other national and international organizations, who opposed the draft law and urged the government not to pass it – despite facing dismissal and online denigration.The annulment of the law is a critical step toward ensuring an enabling environment for media in Kosovo, reinforcing the importance of transparent and inclusive legislative processes that respect democratic principles and the role of civil society. Read more here.
