SEEMO condemns the hooliganism act at a Moldovan regional TV station
There are international reactions over the incident which happened on April 9 at the headquarters of the regional channel Elita TV, based in Rezina town, 100 km away from Moldova’s capital of Chisinau.
“The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns the destruction of technical installations of the regional channel Elita TV,” informs SEEMO in a press release.
Several still unidentified hooligans entered the office of Elita TV damaging and stealing the basic technical equipment. The information was confirmed for Moldova.ORG by Angela Zaharova, the news producer.
According to her, the vandalism act comes days after the channel’s administration withheld a proposal to sell the TV station to a private company from Chisinau. They have been threatened that they may experience difficulties while performing their duties.
Part of the equipment which was stolen was found outside the TV station, while other parts were found in the house of one inhabitant of Rezina town. The man said that he found the computers near his door.
Angela Zaharova said the “act of vandalism was premeditated.”
“I call on the authorities in Rezina and Chisinau to bring to justice the perpetrators,” said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic.
“Destroying media property is a form of media silencing. Democracy needs freedom of expression,” added Oliver Vujovic.
Since 1993 Elita TV broadcasts in five districts, covering 450,000 viewers.
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