Non-governmental media organizations condemn the perpetuation of online intimidation of journalists and call on law enforcement agencies to prosecute harassers and perpetrators of threats.
On September 13, journalist Vasile Botnaru became the target of death threats from a social network user. In a message addressed to the reporter, the man, whose profile is identified with the name Nestor Putina, threatened Vasile Botnaru that he would be killed (“Soon they will find you hanged! You don’t have much left (…) or at wall or with the throat cut!”).
The signatory organizations condemn these unacceptable practices, underlining the increased danger of their rooting and perpetuation in the online environment. 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 legislation.
The signatory organizations strongly condemn the illegal actions of the perpetrator and signal the inadmissibility of tolerating such violations.
We ask the law enforcement bodies of Moldova, by virtue of their legal powers, to take note of the facts committed and to initiate the procedures provided for by law in order to bring the perpetrator of the threats to justice.
- Center for Independent Journalism
- Association of Environmental Journalists and Ecological Tourism
- Media Guard Association
- Association of Electronic Press
- Association of Independent Press
- “Access-Info” Center
- Committee for Freedom of the Press
- RISE Moldova
