In the heart of the Balkans, where the threads of political intrigue and historical grievances are deeply woven, Berat Buzhala stands as a figure shrouded in controversy, his actions casting long shadows over the political landscape of Kosovo. As a former politician turned media mogul, Buzhala’s narrative, penned in an ostensibly transparent piece for KOHA in October 2018, attempts to portray him as a transparent figure unfairly victimised by the political machinations in Kosovo. However, the depth of his connections and the dubious nature of his dealings suggest a far more complex and potentially damaging reality.
Buzhala’s own writings reveal his business endeavours, particularly a failed quarry operation in northern Kosovo, tied with influential Kosovar leaders like Kadri Veseli, Hashim Thaci and Zvonko Veselinovic among others..
Hashim Thaçi, a prominent Kosovar politician and former President of Kosovo, has faced numerous allegations of criminal activity and corruption throughout his career. These allegations cast a shadow over his contributions to Kosovo’s independence and his role in its political development. Throughout his political career, Thaçi has also faced various accusations of corruption. These include misusing public funds, exerting undue influence over public enterprises, and nepotism in government appointments. Such allegations have sparked domestic criticism and concern among international observers about governance and rule of law in Kosovo under his leadership.
A “Kosova News” investigation shows Buzhala struggling under Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s government, which has severed the financial support he once enjoyed during Thaçi’s administration. During his tenure as an MP, his media outlets, like Media Works SH.P.K, received approximately €437,000 from Telecom of Kosovo for “marketing.” This funding cessation has led Buzhala to intensify his criticisms, accusing the government of economic and political decline. A Kosovo Tax Administration document reveals a €71,000 fine against Buzhala for tax evasion on share sales, pointing to deeper financial discrepancies.
A 2015 Balkan Insight article reveals Buzhala’s ties to a quarrying company, Arena Invest, which secured a lucrative contract for the Pristina-Tirana highway without public oversight or transparent bidding, raising severe embezzlement concerns. The report outlines a profitable deal awarded to Arena Invest, a quarrying company with significant connections to the PDK leadership, including Buzhala. This company won a lucrative contract to supply 80,000 tonnes of aggregate for the controversial €1 billion Pristina-Tirana highway, without public oversight or transparent bidding processes, raising severe concerns about the potential embezzlement of public funds. His involvement in Arena Invest illustrates his ability to navigate and potentially exploit business-political intersections for personal and political gain, highlighting systemic corruption issues within Kosovo.
Despite claims of straightforward investment in Kosovo’s depopulating areas, Buzhala’s venture soon revealed a network suggesting deeper political and criminal connections. His narrative shifts from admission to victimisation claims, but his consistent association with disreputable figures tells a different story.
The gravitas of Buzhala’s associations extends beyond mere local politics, drawing in connections with significantly more ominous figures, such as Zvonko Veselinovic, a man blacklisted by the United States and known for his extensive criminal activities in Kosovo and Serbia. A 2023 report by Vijesti outlines Veselinovic’s alleged roles in organised riots, murder orchestration, and other criminal activities, embedding him in the darkest corners of Balkan criminal enterprises. Buzhala’s name, mentioned alongside such figures, raises profound concerns about the extent and nature of his engagements.
Buzhala’s ties are not confined to the Balkans but extend to invite suspicions over the alarming allegations of connections with Russian elements. In a revealing 2019 interview with Albania’s Top Channel, he faced questions about these ties. While he dismissed these allegations, his subsequent actions and the editorial direction of his media outlet, Nacionale, consistently echo Russian geopolitical interests. These publications appear to be advocating in favour of Serbian territorial claims and aiming to undermine Kosovo’s sovereignty, aligning suspiciously with Kremlin objectives under a thinly veiled guise of American patriotism.
Moreover, Buzhala’s association with Richard Grenell, the controversial former Director of US National Intelligence under Donald Trump, known for his financial involvements with Serbian and Russian-backed entities, adds another layer of scrutiny. This relationship suggests a convergence of interests potentially favouring external influences over Kosovo’s national integrity, illustrating a network that could be leveraging Buzhala’s media platform to destabilise the region.
After the conflict in Banjska, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that the dialogue format should be elevated to the “conference level,” with the EU and the Euro-Atlantic community represented at the highest level, and France and Germany at the level of presidents and chancellors. Rama’s calls for an international conference to address Kosovo’s situation, hints a broader agenda supported by various media outlets across Kosovo, including Buzhala’s.
The Banjska attack gunmen were reportedly led by Milan Radoicic of the Kosovo-Serb Belgrade-controlled political party Srpska Lista, which is said to have been funded, trained, and orchestrated by the Serbian government. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has enjoyed consistent political appeasement and enablement from Rama, as well as from US Envoy to the Prishtina-Belgrade dialogue, DAS Gabriel Escobar. FRONTLINER investigations suggest that Escobar may be linked to funding from Belgrade.
Interestingly, following FRONTLINER’s publication of allegations on March 22, 2024, regarding a potential conflict of interest involving Gabriel Escobar, which resulted in his dismissal from the envoy’s post, Berat Buzhala initiated a series of aggressive hit pieces. These were aimed at discrediting me and FRONTLINER Magazine, in an attempt to undermine our independent journalistic investigations.
Escobar’s impartiality is under scrutiny due to allegations that his wife received funding from Serbia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, raising serious conflict of interest concerns. Such a connection is problematic because it potentially aligns his diplomatic actions with Serbian interests, undermining the neutrality essential to his role in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.
In an April conversation with THE FRONTLINER, Sali Berisha, a former Albanian President (1992-1997) and Prime Minister (2005-2013), pointed out key figures in Albania, including Edi Rama, who he said support a Kremlin-influenced agenda aimed at dividing Kosovo.
“Kosovo is a hotspot,” Rama told the Financial Times in October 2023, describing northern Kosovo as a no-man’s land where crime and rising nationalism converge, blurring the lines between crime and politics. Rama’s portrayal of northern Kosovo as a lawless area contrasts with active local police efforts to dismantle criminal networks, suggesting his statements are part of a larger, concerning narrative.
Berisha’s statement and insights from diplomatic sources suggest that Rama’s comments are part of a broader agenda. This agenda appears to have substantial support in various media outlets across the Republic of Kosovo, where Berat Buzhala’s influence is notably pervasive.
Berisha told THE FRONTLINER that an international conference to address the situation in Kosovo was actually initiated by Edi Rama. This detail is crucial as it aligns with further controversial actions linked to the Banjska attack in northern Kosovo.
Furthermore, Berat Buzhala, in his media narratives and editorial policies, has consistently attacked the Kosovar leadership’s firm stance against Serbia’s territorial and constitutional aggressions. These complex dynamics highlight a network of international and regional influences exacerbating tensions in the Balkans.
The strategic silence of Buzhala during critical moments adds to the suspicions surrounding him. Notably, when Kremlin-aligned Serbia orchestrated territorial aggression and annexation attempts reminiscent of Russia’s actions in Crimea, Buzhala remained conspicuously quiet, an omission that speaks volumes in the context of his other activities. This silence during pivotal events, combined with the portrayal of Kosovo as incapable of maintaining international relations as highlighted in an EU Parliament report, positions Buzhala as a central figure in a narrative that undermines Kosovo’s sovereignty and democratic processes.
Media Manipulation and Political Agendas: Scrutinising Berat Buzhala’s Dubious Activities in the Balkans
Despite NACIONALE’s claim of professional journalism, their failure to adhere to the Kosovar Independent Media Commission’s Code of Ethics, lack of transparency, and anonymous publications raise serious credibility concerns. The potential for bankruptcy declaration highlights a pattern of avoiding legal repercussions, emphasising the critical role of media accountability in supporting a democratic Kosovo.
Name Berat Buzhala recurrently surfaces, linked invariably to media outlets that are increasingly scrutinized for their editorial slants and ownership mysteries. These channels frequently propagate narratives portraying Kosovo as geopolitically inept, particularly following the shift in government leadership which, for the first time in 25 years, has actively challenged Kremlin’s strategic interests in the region. This backdrop casts a stark light on Buzhala’s enduring influence in shaping public perception through media such as T7 Television and Gazeta Express, both previously under his direct or indirect control.
The convoluted transactions involving these media entities, including sales to foreign companies with opaque ownership structures, suggest a deliberate attempt to obscure the true beneficiaries and influencers behind these outlets. This pattern is not just a footnote in corporate ledgers but a significant element in understanding how media ownership intersects with political narratives in Kosovo. As such, the role of media in sustaining a healthy democracy comes under scrutiny, especially when influential figures like Buzhala are at the nexus of complex ownership networks that may serve external agendas rather than local public interest. The question then arises: to what extent do these media manipulations compromise Kosovo’s efforts to forge robust international relationships and a transparent democratic society?
According to the European Parliament report titled “Mapping Fake News and Disinformation in the Western Balkans and Identifying Ways to Effectively Counter Them” in 2021, Gazeta Express is mentioned on page 26 as one of the mainstream media outlets in Kosovo categorised as key disinformation channel. It is worth noting that Gazeta Express was co-founded and co-owned by Berat Buzhala, who now operates another NACIONALE outlet. Despite Buzhala’s claim of leaving Express, considering the level of credibility associated with him, there is no assurance that Buzhala has completely disassociated himself from Gazeta Express or KLAN Kosova outlet as he asserts.
The Frontliner attempted to contact Berat Buzhala and his media outlet for inquiries, but all efforts were unsuccessful.
Further investigation revealed that Buzhala, along with Besnik Kallaba, established Media Group Publico LLC in February 2022. Initially, Buzhala held 95% of the shares, while Kallaba owned the remaining 5%. By June 2022, Kallaba had transferred his shares to Buzhala, making him the sole owner. Kallaba separately owns BK ONLINE LLC and Active Ads & Marketing LLC.
Berat Buzhala, a law graduate, began his journalism career in 2000 at Zëri, moving on to roles at Koha Ditore and Lajm newspaper. In 2005, he played a pivotal role in founding Express newspaper under Media Works, owned by IPKO Telecommunicate LLC. From 2010 to 2014, Buzhala delved into politics, serving as a deputy for the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), before returning to his role as director of Express newspaper until 2021. During this period, he sold the shares to ABC Management Sh.p.k for over one million euros. He also runs Media Group Publico, a company based in Albania but operating mainly in Kosovo, known for its extensive video and news content. Despite his significant presence in both media and political circles, Buzhala’s financial dealings lack transparency, with no available public financial data and unanswered queries from the Ministry of Finance about his companies’ financial disclosures. This opacity raises serious questions about the motives and methods behind Buzhala’s media operations.
The intricate web of Buzhala’s connections and the criminal undertones identified in various reports demand a rigorous and comprehensive scrutiny by Kosovo’s authorities. The potential for his media influence to serve foreign agendas, coupled with his financial and political entanglements, underscores an urgent need for transparency and accountability in media ownership and journalism in Kosovo. As the region strives to fortify its democratic institutions, ensuring that figures like Buzhala are held accountable becomes crucial for the integrity and future stability of the state.
In weaving together the threads of Buzhala’s story, it becomes clear that beneath the surface of his self-portrayed victimhood lies a complex and potentially perilous saga of political manipulation and foreign entanglement. His actions and associations go beyond personal ambition, touching the very core of Kosovo’s national security and its ongoing struggle for democratic integrity.
Berat Buzhala’s role as a media mogul and his prior political engagements weave a tale of murky ethics and questionable allegiances. In a media landscape that desperately needs integrity and transparency, Buzhala emerges not as a beacon of journalistic rigour but rather as an emblem of the perils facing democratic institutions today. His extensive dealings, marred by conflicts of interest and shadowy connections ranging from corrupt political figures to international operatives with dubious agendas, paint a stark picture of a man more interested in manipulating public discourse for personal and political gain than in upholding the tenets of democracy. The gravitas of his influence, particularly in an already volatile region, begs a critical question: How dangerous is it to have such a figure at the helm of a media outlet? Given his record, Buzhala’s continued influence poses a significant threat to the journalistic integrity and democratic fabric of Kosovo, turning his media outlets into potential tools for propaganda rather than pillars of truth.
Vudi Xhymshiti, founder of The Frontliner Magazine, brings a wealth of experience in reporting on global armed conflicts and political issues. With a background in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism from the University of the Arts London, and studies in Political Science, International Relations, and Diplomacy, Vudi skilfully merges human rights insights with dedicated journalism. His ethical and thoughtful reporting has graced top publications like The Guardian and The New York Times. At The Frontliner, launched in 2023, he explores the profound effects of conflicts on law, human rights, and freedoms, continuing his commitment to impactful storytelling.
