The investigative media outlet KALLXO.com is currently facing a targeted smear campaign orchestrated by social media influencers who are attempting to link the platform to a notorious Facebook troll profile named “Lule Gjeli.” This coordinated effort seeks to undermine KALLXO’s credibility, largely due to the outlet’s ongoing success in exposing pro-Kremlin disinformation networks within the Albanian-language information space. By fabricating associations between the newsroom and the troll account, these detractors aim to discredit the fact-checking work of KALLXO’s “Krypometër” unit.
The controversy stems from an opinion piece published by KALLXO in August 2020 under the pseudonym “Lule Gjeli.” At the time of the article’s publication, the name was merely a pen name for a contributor; it had no connection to the Facebook page that emerged much later. KALLXO has clarified that the author was not compensated, and the piece underwent standard editorial review. The outlet emphasizes that it has no affiliation with the Facebook persona that subsequently began spreading misinformation, noting that KALLXO itself has been the primary entity exposing and labeling that profile’s false content.
Indeed, KALLXO’s record regarding the “Lule Gjeli” Facebook page is one of rigorous scrutiny. The platform’s fact-checkers have identified and debunked at least twelve instances of blatant misinformation disseminated by that account, ranging from false claims about public officials to nonexistent news events. Because of these investigations, the offending page has frequently targeted KALLXO’s staff with hate speech, threats, and defamation. KALLXO maintains that the campaign against them is a retaliatory tactic used by influencers who have been previously exposed for their own roles in spreading foreign, anti-democratic propaganda.
The pressure has intensified as various public figures, including the Mayor of Prishtina, Përparim Rama, have publicly questioned the outlet’s history with the pseudonym. In a direct response, KALLXO firmly rejected the premise that it is responsible for the later actions of a page that shares the same name as a former contributor. The outlet reaffirmed that its editorial independence remains intact and is not subject to political pressure, stating clearly that it will not apologize for upholding professional journalism or for investigative reporting that critiques current leadership.
KALLXO has characterized these attacks as part of a broader, organized misinformation strategy designed to distract the public from the outlet’s investigative findings. By attempting to manufacture a “scandal,” these influencers hope to erode the institutional trust KALLXO has built, particularly regarding its documentation of Kremlin-aligned actors. KALLXO insists that the timing of these attacks is not coincidental, as they follow a series of reports exposing the lack of editorial transparency among the very influencers now leading the charges against the newsroom.
In light of the persistent defamatory attacks and the potential harm caused to its reputation and personnel, KALLXO.com has announced that it will pursue all available legal remedies. The outlet has made its position clear: while it will continue to protect the anonymity of past contributors per its editorial policies, it is fully prepared to cooperate with competent authorities to address the malicious nature of these allegations. The newsroom remains committed to its mission, stating that it will not be intimidated by digital harassment or by those who seek to silence the facts through smear tactics.