The non-governmental media organizations stand in solidarity with journalists in Gagauzia subjected to pressure and intimidation by some representatives of the local administration and insist that the illegal practices of threats cease immediately.
On January 22, 2024, Laf.md made public the fact that the journalists of this portal, as well as their colleagues from Nokta.md, are under pressure from the exponents of power in the region, referring to the statements of Mihail Vlah, adviser to the governor Evghenia Guțul , responsible for media relations.
In a live video broadcast on January 12, on Facebook, Mihail Vlah calls Nokta.md reporters “pseudo-journalists for sale” («продажные псевдо журналисты»), and in the text accompanying the recording he threatens “I think the time is coming when we have to let’s kick them out!” «Думаю наступает время когда им нужно дать по зубам!»).
On January 16, in another live video transmission, published on the same social network, Mihail Vlah claims that “in Gagauzia there is a grant-eater, the disrespected Mihail Sirkeli” who would denigrate the local deputies, but also the governor the region.
The signatory organizations vehemently condemn the unacceptable behavior of Mihail Vlah directed against media representatives and signal the inadmissibility of tolerating such an attitude. These are not the only attacks on uncomfortable journalists in Gagauzia by representatives of the local administration and they insist that these illegal practices of intimidation be stopped, media NGOs remind.
According to the Law on Freedom of Expression, the state guarantees the freedom of expression of the press, and the illegal obstruction of the media’s activity attracts criminal liability. At the same time, we emphasize that the threat of death or serious injury to bodily integrity or health, committed including through an IT system, constitutes acts criminalized by criminal law.
We ask the legal bodies of the Republic of Moldova to, by virtue of their legal powers, take note of the committed facts and initiate the procedures provided for by law in order to bring the perpetrator of the threats to justice.
- Center for Independent Journalism
- Association of Independent Press
- RISE Moldova
- Center for Journalistic Investigations
- Association of Electronic Press
- “Access-Info” Center
- MEDIA GUARD Association
