Entry ban for Albanian journalist who called Konitsa Albanian

The greek authorities declared yesterday unwanted (“non grata”) albanian journalist Artan Hoxha, banning him from entering Greek territory for life.

Hoxza attempted to travel to Greece yesterday morning when he was stopped for a formal check by Greek border police at the Kakavia crossing point. During passport control, he was informed that he was not allowed to enter the country, as he was considered a risk to public security or the international relations of one or more EU member states.

After his passport was confiscated, he remained at the police station for about an hour, where shortly after 10:30 in the morning he was officially notified of the decision to ban him from entering for an indefinite period. The ban was marked with a cross on his passport, above the Greek police stamp, and he was asked to leave Greece immediately.

Κατά καιρούς ο Hoxha επισκεπτόταν την Ελλάδα και έκανε προκλητικές αναρτήσεις στα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσής του, κάνοντας λόγο για αλβανικά εδάφη. Στο προφίλ του υπάρχουν φωτογραφίες από την Ακρόπολη αλλά και την προεδρική φρουρά στο μνημείο του Αγνώστου Στρατιώτη στο Σύνταγμα. Όμως σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες, η σταγόνα που ξεχείλισε το ποτήρι, ήταν η επίσκεψή του στην Κόνιτσα τον Ιανουάριο του 2024 όπου δημοσίευσε φωτογραφία να κάνει την χαρακτηριστική χειρονομία με τον δικέφαλο αετό μπροστά στην Ελληνική σημαία.

The photo in question was also accompanied by the following text:

Since there was no red Albanian flag anywhere, above the 150-year-old stone bridge over the Aoos River, I put the double-headed eagle on my own.

In November 2024, by order of the Special Prosecutor's Office (SPAK), Hoxha was arrested and subsequently placed under house arrest on charges of "participation in a criminal organization."

Hoxha, in addition to his police reporting, is also known for his strongly anti-Greek positions. In every Albanian television show with topics against Greece or the Greek Minority, he was always present and even had a leading role. Apparently, he visited Greece only to feed anti-Greekism to his followers on social media. Now let him be content with seeing Greece from Google Maps.