The situation of the media in the Republic of Moldova remains problematic and has not improved over the past year, warn media organizations in a memorandum published on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.
The memorandum highlights an intensification of online harassment of journalists, especially in the context of the 2024 elections, as well as pressure on the press in the Gagauzia Autonomous Territorial Unit, where local authorities attempted to establish a parallel licensing mechanism and abusively regulate online media.
The document also mentions attacks and insults against reporters by members of political parties and protesters associated with convicted politician Ilan Shor. Coordinated attacks and verbal threats, including death threats, were frequent—particularly in the online space.
The Transnistrian region remains an unsafe territory for journalists. Over the past year, three cases of illegal detention by separatist forces in Tiraspol have been reported, along with a so-called “legislative” initiative aimed at introducing fines for carrying out journalistic activity in the region without accreditation.
The information space continues to be vulnerable to disinformation and anti-European foreign narratives, aimed at diverting the Republic of Moldova from its path toward European integration. Security gaps in the national media landscape remain unresolved.
Media organizations continue to draw attention to ongoing issues such as the lack of transparency in online media ownership, inadequate content moderation, and the fight against disinformation—including that generated with the help of artificial intelligence (AI)—which remain unaddressed.
The signatory organizations call on the authorities to adopt concrete measures to protect press freedom, including strengthening the legal framework, improving access to information mechanisms, creating an institutional mechanism for the protection of journalists, and implementing tools that support the economic sustainability of independent media.
Source: Radio Chișinău
