The Gunpowder Chronicles Condemns the Reckless Rhetoric Endangering a British-Based Journalist

Berisha incites, Zeka amplifies, and both openly dehumanise a working journalist, language that, in this region’s history, has repeatedly preceded real violence. This escalation is dangerous.

The Gunpowder Chronicles expresses its deepest alarm and strongest condemnation at the escalating campaign of public incitement, defamation, and targeted intimidation directed against our Chief Editor,

Vudi Xhymshiti

, by former Kosovo MP Hisen Berisha and political operator Milaim Zeka.

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

This cartoon exists because Hisen Berisha’s public statement was not political criticism. It was incitement. When a former MP declares that journalists like Vudi Xhymshiti must be “hit directly, strongly, and institutionally”, he uses language that in Kosovo’s recent history has preceded real violence. Berisha comes from a political class under whose mandates journalists, activists and politicians were assassinated during and after the war. His rhetoric therefore carries a weight that cannot be dismissed. The cartoon uses strong symbolism to show what his words imply: that targeting a journalist is being morally justified. It does not depict literal violence, but it visualises the threat embedded in his message. In a society with a history of killings linked to political discourse, this is not exaggeration, it is a warning.

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.

A former MP calls for journalists to be ‘hit directly’. A political operator calls one a ‘rodent’. This is how incitement begins.

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

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1. Hisen Berisha’s Facebook Post, Nov 22, 2025.

2. Journalists Killed, Criminals Promoted

Kosovo’s press wasn’t silenced by dictators, but by journalists-turned-cronies, watchdogs-turned-shields, and RSF’s complicit silence dressed up as advocacy. Truth is dead. — The GPC Media Watch.

3. Kosovo’s Press Freedom Crisis: Nineteen Years of Impunity

Nineteen years after Bardhyl Ajeti’s murder, Kosovo’s press remains stifled by political interference, highlighting a dire need for justice and genuine press freedom. — The GPC Media Watch.

4. Milaim Zeka’s Facebook Post, Nov 22, 2025.

5. Milaim Zeka’s Links to Fatmir Sheholli, arrested on Oct 9 on allegations of Espionage in favour of Serbia — Zeka-Sheholli Link.

6. Milaim Zeka’s Links to Halit Sahitaj, a criminal operative with Russian Intelligence Services. — The GPC Halit Sahitaj.

7. Family home of investigative journalist vandalised — NUJ.

8. PRESS RELEASE: Journalist Vudi Xhymshiti Condemns Vandalism of Family Home in Kosovo

Investigative journalist Vudi Xhymshiti condemns the vandalism of his family home in Kosovo, calling it a criminal intimidation linked to his exposés on Serbian espionage networks. — The GPC Official Dispatch.

9. STATEMENT: Kosovo Attack Tied to Investigations Exposing Espionage and Disinformation

The Gunpowder Chronicles confirms the Kosovo attack on Chief Editor Vudi Xhymshiti’s family home is a direct retaliation for investigations exposing espionage, corruption, and disinformation networks. — The GPC Official Dispatch.