KALLXO.com is currently facing a coordinated campaign of misinformation and defamation, spearheaded by various social media influencers who are attempting to tarnish its reputation. At the heart of these attacks is a persistent, false narrative attempting to link the independent media outlet to a notorious Facebook troll profile known as “Lule Gjeli.” This smear campaign is not merely a random internet squabble; it is a calculated effort to undermine KALLXO’s essential work in investigative journalism and fact-checking, particularly its success in exposing Russian-backed disinformation networks operating within the Albanian-language media landscape. Because these attacks have crossed the line into serious defamation and have actively targeted the safety and credibility of its editorial staff, KALLXO has officially declared that it will pursue all available legal remedies to hold those involved accountable.
The history of the “Lule Gjeli” pseudonym is being weaponized to distort the truth, yet the facts remain straightforward. In 2020, long before the Facebook profile existed to spread hate speech and false political narratives, the newsroom published a guest opinion piece under that pseudonym—a common editorial practice for sensitive or specific content. Since then, the profile “Lule Gjeli” has morphed into a source of toxic misinformation on social media, prompting KALLXO’s own fact-checking arm, Krypometër, to flag it more than a dozen times. From debunking false claims about public figures’ health and safety to calling out lies regarding international diplomacy and local politics, KALLXO has systematically exposed the very account that their attackers now falsely accuse them of operating or supporting.
The absurdity of these allegations is highlighted by the sheer volume of evidence proving that KALLXO has been an active opponent of the “Lule Gjeli” account, not its patron. Meta’s own platform has frequently labeled posts from that account as false, a direct result of the persistent investigation by KALLXO’s team. Despite this, malicious influencers—many of whom have been previously identified by investigative reports as propagators of Kremlin-aligned disinformation—are ignoring the verified timeline. They are choosing instead to engage in a smear campaign, likely as a form of retaliation against the media outlet for shedding light on their own unprofessional, and often biased, editorial practices. By creating a false association, these influencers hope to distract the public from their own documented history of spreading unverified, pro-Kremlin content.
This issue reached a boiling point when the Mayor of Prishtina, Përparim Rama, questioned the outlet’s integrity by asking about its historical usage of the “Lule Gjeli” pseudonym. In a firm and transparent response, KALLXO clarified that while they know the identity of the original 2020 contributor, they have absolutely no connection to the modern-day Facebook troll profile. The newsroom emphasized that the 2020 article was an independent opinion piece and that no payments, political coordination, or subsequent collaboration ever took place. They reaffirmed that their editorial policy is guided by public interest rather than the agendas of any specific political party or administration. When pressured to apologize for being linked to the antics of the “Lule Gjeli” page, KALLXO stood its ground, refusing to accept blame for the actions of a bad-faith actor using the same handle years after the fact.
The broader implications of this campaign are deeply concerning for the future of journalism in Kosovo. By labeling factual, independent reporting as “politically biased” or “pro-government,” these influencers are attempting to erode the public’s trust in the institutions that keep power accountable. KALLXO has been clear: they operate under strict editorial standards designed to serve the public, not to do the bidding of the current or former political elite. Being accused of being an enemy of the state one day and an instrument of the state the next is a testament to their independence, yet this does not spare them from the real-world harm caused by targeted harassment. Such tactics are intended to intimidate journalists into silence, hoping that the exhaustion of defending one’s integrity against groundless, viral lies will eventually lead to less aggressive fact-checking.
In closing, KALLXO remains steadfast in its defense of truth and professional ethics. They have signaled that while they will continue to respect the privacy of their former contributors, they are fully prepared to cooperate with legal authorities to address the defamatory attacks currently circulating. The newsroom has made it clear that they are not swayed by these coordinated disinformation efforts, nor will they be deterred from their mission. By taking the fight to the courtroom, they are sending a message that while the digital space may be crowded with malice and deception, the facts are immovable. The truth, in this case, is not just a shield for their reputation, but the foundation upon which their future reporting will continue to grow, undeterred by those who wish to silence them.