Struggle for freedom of expression and information continues in Moldova
On Monday, February 20, the Independent Journalism Center published a report covering last year regarding the freedom of expression and information in the Republic of Moldova, which points out that "although the legislation provides for certain guarantees, in practice media is struggling between the political pressures and economic difficulties".
The report comprises a series of relevant events regarding the quality of the freedom of expression and information; the parliamentary and the president elections, the triple attempt to elect a mayor of the capital and the role of media in this process are standing out. "Particular discrepancies have arisen out of the debate duration within the audiovisual institutions, electoral reportages within the news, as well as the interference of private audiovisual institutions in electoral campaigns. The Central Electoral Commission considered the suggestions on the part of the civil society and political parities, the electoral campaigns of 2005 having been regulated by improved documents in relation to the previous elections", this report shows.
The experts say "a slight progress was observed" as a result of monitoring in January-June 2005 the programs broadcast by Teleradio-Moldova Company, "which, if maintained and constantly developed in parallel with the improvement of the other parameters, might lead to the characteristics of an editorial policy specific to public television service". However, "greater oscillations were observed as to partiality, for which the professional deontology and news editors bear responsibility". Speaking of the NIT Company, the report mentions that "it demonstrates a non-dissimulated partiality in favor of the current government, being unjustifiably favored by the state government and CCA".
Last year the journalists of the independent weekly "Unghiul" (Ungheni), "Moldavskie Vedomosty", "Kommersant Plus" etc pointed out many cases of attempts to intimidate them. According to the report, the situation of the investigative journalism in the Republic of Moldova remains precarious. The journalists that do investigations do not enjoy guarantees, legal facilities, or any kind of support on the part of the law enforcement bodies. "Alarming as well is that the law enforcement bodies do not react to the disclosures published in the papers. The journalists are the target of different kinds of intimidations: civil suits, threats etc". // Reporter.MD
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