Published the news about AIDS infections in Gjirokastra, Emin Kokalari speaks for the first time: Here's how I found out!

2026-04-22 13:15:31Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Municipality of Gjirokastra: Emin Kokalari/ HIV/AIDS/ Basir Çollaku

Emin Kokalari , the person accused of publishing the news of HIV/AIDS infections in the municipality of Gjirokastra, spoke today to "Albania Live".

Kokalari explained that he was not the source of the news, but in fact it was journalist Basir Çollaku , who had declared that a municipality in the south of the country had become a hotbed of this disease.

Kokalari said he only re-distributed the news, raising questions as earlier rumors about this were circulating in the city of Gjirokastra.

" There was a misunderstanding. I am not the source of the news, the news was published by Basir Çollaku. When I read it, I was worried because I have my own activity as a dentist, but also as a citizen. I have redistributed the news of a licensed journalist. Then the news spread, because I published it. First, I am not a journalist, I am a dentist. I am not educated in journalism. This is also a damage to the image of the media because they have not verified the information.

I had heard the news before because Gjirokastra is a big city and I raised a public question saying is there a reaction to this news that is circulating? I published Basir Çollaku's news and I said that I had information but now that a journalist is publishing it, do you believe it? So I did not accuse anyone but I simply raised a question.

I have not had any communication with the municipality. I learned about the criminal complaint from the media that reported it and then I went to the police. There I gave my statement. I contacted the journalist Çollaku personally and asked him if it was true, his answer was yes. I would never be happy if this were true.

"I have no boss and I don't take orders from anyone. My actions are personal, I'm not part of any group, whether party or otherwise. I don't care at all what happens to them. I care about my life and the community around me. I have no enemies, I have no party colors ," he said.


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