Non-governmental organizations in the media field repeatedly condemn the intimidation speech used by the mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, manifested by launching attacks on investigative journalists, as well as by using administrative resources to undermine press freedom.
During the weekly meeting on December 18 of the services of the Chisinau City Hall, the mayor of the Capital once again devoted part of his speech to investigative journalists. He stated that City Hall employees would have been intimidated with cameras to find out with whom they voted in the elections, labeling the journalists as “political killers, hired for very big money, of dubious provenance”.
Ion Ceban is not the first to commit this kind of offense. He has also previously intimidated the press, as well during the weekly City Hall meetings.
In addition, in a letter sent by the National Alternative Movement Party (MAN) to several diplomatic missions and international organizations in the Republic of Moldova, the TV8 channel was accused of intimidating party members and sympathizers at work with questions about the amount of donations paid into the budget formation. “We believe that TV8 has chosen to verify donations in favor of the MAN party with the aim of discouraging the active involvement of our members and supporters,” the letter says.
We condemn the inappropriate attitude of Ion Ceban, inappropriate for a person holding a position of public dignity. We ask the mayor, repeatedly and insistently, to stop intimidating journalists who try to cover information of public interest.
- Center for Independent Journalism
- Association of Independent Press
- “Access-Info” Center
- Committee for Freedom of the Press
- Center for Investigative Journalism
- Association of Electronic Press
- Association of Environmental Journalists and Ecological Tourism
- Media-Guard Association
- RISE Moldova
