The investigations desk at has built its reputation on publishing deeply reported work that exposes corruption, hidden power structures and covert influence operations. Drawing on document based research, field reporting and collaborative inquiry, it has scrutinised political actors, organised networks and state backed interference that threaten democratic institutions and the rule of law. The creation of signals a strategic evolution of that work into a standalone digital magazine designed to operate with greater depth, precision and analytical scope.

At its core, The Profiler is intended to deliver rigorous, intelligence driven reporting that goes beyond conventional journalism. It combines open source intelligence and human intelligence …

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From tracking Russian disinformation to exposing high-level corruption across Eastern Europe, our team has operated with a commitment to truth over noise.

Since our inception, we have offered our continuous investigations, including the dedicated work of our Albanian news desk, entirely for free. While we are grateful to the readers whose donations have supported us, the reality of high-risk investigative journalism is that a “free” model is no longer sustainable.

To ensure we can continue to hold power to account without compromise, we are moving to a full reader-supported model.

Key Changes Starting April 7, 2026

• Albanian News Desk: Access to our Albanian-language investigations will move behind a paywall and will no longer be available to free subscribers.

• English Edition: The English-language edition will also transition to a paid-only model for our prim…

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The sequence of events began with the sudden suspension of the personal Facebook account1 of , chief editor of The Gunpowder Chronicles. The suspension followed what appeared to be a high volume of user reports alleging violations of Facebook Community Standards. The account was rendered inaccessible, with no detailed explanation of the specific content or behaviour that triggered the action.

Within hours, after contact with journalistic and legal representatives in the United Kingdom, the personal account was restored. Facebook did not provide a substantive explanation for the reversal. However, the reinstatement proved temporary. Subsequent restrictions were applied again, including limitations on commenting and public interaction, despite no new enforcement not…

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This escalation represents a direct violation of international norms on the safety of journalists, including Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4, Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the OSCE Ministerial Decision on Safety of Journalists, the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, and the UNESCO guidelines on preventing incitement against media actors.

It also constitutes the kind of public vilification the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism identifies as a precursor to violence against journalists.

Incitement by Former MP Hisen Berisha

On 22 November 2025, Mr Berisha published a statement on Facebook1 in which he labels journalists like Mr Xhymshiti as:

• “propagandists recycling Serbia’s narratives”

• “gateways for Serbian policy”

• “spokespeople of Serbia”

• “a network that must be hit directly, strongly, and institutionally”

Such wording cannot be misinterpreted. In the political context of Kosovo, where accusations of “serving Serbia” have historically preceded threats, harassment and even assassinations2, these remarks are dangerously incendiary3.
They effectively portray a journalist as a traitor and as a legitimate target for “direct” and “strong” action.

Mr Berisha is fully aware of the gravity of this rhetoric. His choice of language appears crafted to provoke social hostility and diminish public restraint toward violence.

Amplification and Smear by Political Operator Milaim Zeka

Shortly after Mr Berisha’s post, Milaim Zeka amplified it on Facebook4, adding:

“Shihne kete minukin nga Londra, qe ma shume rrine ne Beograd me Bojan Dimiçin e Faik Imerin, se sa me familjaret e tije.”
(“Look at this rodent from London, who spends more time in Belgrade with Bojan Dimić and Faik Imeri than with his own family.”)

This is an explicit, personalised smear designed to dehumanise, delegitimise, and present Mr Xhymshiti as a figure of contempt.
It also falsely insinuates collaboration with foreign intelligence-linked actors, an allegation with clear and dangerous consequences in the Balkans.

Our newsroom’s investigative findings have already identified Mr Zeka’s involvement in alleged Serbian5 and Russian-linked influence and espionage networks6, including actors associated with hybrid-warfare and disinformation operations. His targeting of Mr Xhymshiti must be viewed within this broader context.

Previous Acts of Intimidation

On 13 October 2025, the UK National Union of Journalists condemned7 the vandalism of Mr Xhymshiti’s family home in Kosovo after windows were smashed and a memorial vehicle belonging to his late father was desecrated8. That incident, now under investigation with four suspects arrested, was already assessed as an act of intimidation related to his reporting on espionage structures in the Western Balkans9.

The latest escalation confirms that the threat is ongoing, coordinated, and now public.

Violation of International Obligations

The attacks by Mr Berisha and Mr Zeka violate:

• Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 (duty to prevent intimidation and to condemn attacks on journalists)

• Article 10 ECHR (freedom of expression and protection of journalistic work)

• OSCE Guidelines on the Safety of Journalists (duty of political actors to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric)

• UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists (obligation to protect journalists from threats, both physical and psychological)

The rhetoric used directly contravenes the requirement that states and public actors must “refrain from stigmatising, attacking or undermining the legitimate work of journalists.”

Implications for Imminent Field Work

This escalation occurs just as Mr Xhymshiti prepares to travel to Kosovo for the production of a documentary film on the historical and political tensions in northern Kosovo.

Given the:

• recent vandalism of his family property,

• homophobic insults issued live on television,

• public incitement to target him “directly and strongly”,

• smears linking him to hostile intelligence actors,

• amplification by individuals connected to influence operations,

his safety risk has become acute and immediate.

Our Actions

The Gunpowder Chronicles will be formally alerting:

• The British Foreign Secretary.

• The Chair of the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

• The National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

• The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

• The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

• The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF).

• The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

• The Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism.

• QUINT embassies in Pristina.

• The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK)

We urge these institutions to take the necessary steps to ensure that Mr Xhymshiti’s safety as a journalist is protected under international law.

Our Position

The Gunpowder Chronicles stands unequivocally by its Chief Editor.
No journalist should ever be subjected to incitement, harassment, or intimidation for pursuing the truth, least of all in regions where such rhetoric has historically preceded violence.

We call for the immediate condemnation of these attacks by all relevant institutions and for urgent measures to safeguard Mr Xhymshiti’s security as he carries out his work in the public interest.

The Gunpowder Chronicles
London, United Kingdom
www.thegpc.uk

London, 13 October 2025

The Gunpowder Chronicles has compiled and submitted full documentation concerning the destructive attacks on the family home of our Chief Editor, Mr. , in Kosovo.

The attack1, a deliberate act of vandalism and attempted demolition of the property, is understood to be a direct consequence of the investigative work led by our Chief Editor, , exposing disinformation networks, espionage structures, and political operators actively undermining democratic institutions, media integrity, and the public sphere in the Western Balkans through Russian-style disinformation campaigns.

These investigations have already contributed to the identification, observation, arrest, sanction, and dismissal of several officials and public figures, both national and foreign, implicated in these malign operations.

We have formally notified the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and our National Union of Journalists (UK).

As of our latest verified update, four individuals have been arrested under suspicion of returning to the property for a second time to continue its demolition. The case is under active police investigation in Kosovo.

We acknowledge and thank the media outlets that have already published and amplified our 11 October 2025 press release, helping to ensure public awareness and accountability in this matter:

• Argumentum.al: Gazetari investigativ Vudi Xhymshiti denoncon vandalizmin ndaj pronës së familjes së tij në Kosovë: “Frikësimi nuk do të më ndalë”

• SYRI TV: Sulmohet banesa e gazetarit Vudi Xhymshiti në Kosovë: Akt që rikujton brutalitetin e Millosheviçit

• Politiko.al: Sulmohet banesa e gazetarit Vudi Xhymshiti në Kosovë: Akt që rikujton brutalitetin e Millosheviçit / Journalist Vudi Xhymshiti’s apartment in Kosovo attacked: An act that recalls Milosevic’s brutality

• Kosova News: Gazetari Vudi Xhymshiti dënon vandalizimin e shtëpisë familjare në Kosovë

• MCN TV: Gazetari Vudi Xhymshiti dënon vandalizimin e shtëpisë së familjes në Kosovë

• Kosova Post: Gazetari Vudi Xhymshiti dënon vandalizimin e shtëpisë familjare në Kosovë

• Shqip.com: Gazetari Vudi Xhymshiti denoncon vandalizmin e shtëpisë së tij: Akt që synon të heshtë gazetarinë e pavarur

We trust that press freedom organisations and professional bodies will now fulfil their public responsibility to condemn such acts of intimidation and to stand in defence of journalists targeted for their work in exposing corruption, espionage, and disinformation.

The Gunpowder Chronicles
London, United Kingdom
www.thegpc.uk

Statement by .

Founder and Chief Editor of The FRONTLINE Media, London
(Publisher of Gunpowder Chronicles and Kronikat e Barutit)

Following years of journalistic work exposing Serbia’s Kremlin-aligned destabilisation operations in Kosovo and its covert influence networks that have operated for over two decades in the aftermath of the warlord era that looted and weakened the country, I have once again become a target of intimidation.

After months of in-depth investigations this year into Serbian espionage and disinformation operations, networks that sought to fabricate kompromat and blackmail me, but failed once their activities were exposed through my reporting, my family home in Kosovo, no longer my residence, has been vandalised by unknown assailants.

The property, unoccupied and belonging to my family, was deliberately attacked by individuals connected to the criminal and intelligence-linked structures I have been investigating in The Gunpowder Chronicles. The family’s memorial car, a symbol of our late father, was also desecrated. Nothing was stolen. The purpose was destruction, intimidation, and insult.

This act echoes the brutality of Milosevic’s genocidal forces that burned the same house in 1999. Today, their ideological and political loyalists appear to have found it “reasonable” to vandalise the home of a journalist whose work continues to challenge their lies and interests.

This attack follows months of open online threats, including repeated public calls for my execution from individuals and networks aligned with Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Halit Sahitaj, Berat Buzhala and Milaim Zeka’s circles, who have long opposed critical, independent journalism.

I call upon the police and relevant authorities in the Republic of Kosovo to investigate this act swiftly and transparently, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. I also call upon the journalistic community, both in Kosovo and internationally, to stand united in condemning this assault on press freedom and the safety of those who speak truth to power.

Everyone is safe. But the message from these criminal entities is unmistakable: they seek to intimidate, silence, and erase independent journalism that exposes corruption, espionage, and disinformation.

Let me be equally clear:
I will not be silenced.

This act of vandalism represents yet another attempt by the remnants of warlord-era criminal structures, those responsible for decades of fear, coercion, and assassinations of political activists and journalists to stifle accountability and to restore Serbia’s malign influence in Kosovo.

But intimidation will fail.

No threat, no vandalism, and no campaign of deceit will deter me or The FRONTLINE Media from our mission. The truth will continue to be told, fully, fearlessly, and to the bone of every lie.

For Transparency and Public Attention

Today, on June 3, 2025, we have formally informed Ms. Sidorela Gjoni via WhatsApp text message regarding serious concerns about her recent broadcasts on the show Shqipëria Live.

In the interest of public transparency and accountability, we are publishing the message sent by our Chief Editor, Mr. Vudi Xhymshiti, to ensure the public is accurately informed of our position and the context of this communication.

Below is the full text of the message sent to Ms. Gjoni:

Message from Vudi Xhymshiti, Chief Editor of The Gunpowder Chronicles

Hello Ms. Gjoni,

My name is Vudi Xhymshiti. I am an independent investigative journalist and Chief Editor of The Gunpowder Chronicles, based in London.
https://www.thegpc.uk/about

I am writing to you regarding a matter of serious concern. In the course of our investigative work, we uncovered an operation targeting me personally, initiated by Mr. Milaim Zeka. He deployed an individual associated with the Russia…

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It’s been a transformative year. Gunpowder Chronicles, which I founded in mid-2023, has grown into a critical space for investigative journalism and rigorous reporting. Many of you already know me as Vudi Xhymshiti, a journalist with 17 years of experience covering international conflicts, armed struggles, and human rights issues. In 2022, my work took me back to Kosovo, a region I hadn’t reported from in nearly a decade. What I discovered there was startling: a media landscape shackled by corruption, organised crime, and political narratives…

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