We condemn the behavior of the representatives of the capital’s City Hall towards reporter Felicia Ganev, in connection with ZdG’s efforts to obtain information of public interest.

Non-governmental media organizations condemn the improper behavior of Ion Ceban, the Mayor of Chișinău, and his team in response to the efforts of Ziarul de Gardă (ZdG) to access information of public interest. We denounce the online harassment campaigns and hate speech directed against journalists. We call on municipal representatives to refrain from any form of intolerance towards the media and to ensure the respect of the press’s right to access public interest information according to the conditions and deadlines established by law.

On June 26, the ZdG team went to the Chișinău City Hall to try to obtain information about the pluvial infrastructure projects implemented in the last five years. This followed the municipality’s silence in response to the editorial team’s request for these data, despite 22 days having passed since the submission of the request for access to public interest information.

During the filming of the report, Mayor Ion Ceban asked ZdG journalist Felicia Ganev if she was an engineer “to know how to talk,” while the mayor’s spokesperson, Natalia Ixari, denied receiving a request from the media outlet. To suggest that she did not want to be filmed, Natalia Ixari covered the reporter’s microphone with her hand and moved it away.

Shortly thereafter, Ion Ceban publicly accused the ZdG team of asking “manipulative” questions, as in other cases, and of lacking genuine interest in hearing the provided answers. Meanwhile, Natalia Ixari dedicated several accusatory posts to the journalist and the media outlet, insinuating that the reporter was driven by ill intent. Subsequently, journalist Felicia Ganev and the ZdG editorial team became targets of inciting hate messages and insults online from individuals and groups of trolls.

We remind the representatives of the capital’s City Hall that the Law on Freedom of Expression guarantees the press’s freedom to seek, receive, and communicate facts and ideas. Additionally, the media have the responsibility to inform the public about issues of public interest and to conduct journalistic investigations on such matters in accordance with their responsibilities.

Non-governmental media organizations condemn the use of intimidation and the adoption of hostile behavior towards the press, requesting the general mayor of Chișinău and his spokesperson to abandon such reprehensible practices, including those involving touching or removing reporters’ recording devices.

This is not the first time the mayor of the capital has displayed inappropriate and intimidating behavior towards the media. Previously, non-governmental media organizations have repeatedly reported situations where Ion Ceban attacked and unjustifiably accused the press.

In the same vein, the undersigned organizations express concern over the perpetuation of online intimidation practices against journalists who are fulfilling their professional mission of informing the public. In this case, the phenomenon is fueled by the discrediting campaign against the ZdG editorial team initiated by Mayor Ion Ceban and his spokesperson, Natalia Ixari.

At the same time, we remind the representatives of Chișinău City Hall that the principle of free press access to public interest information enjoys constitutional protection, and neglecting the 10-day deadline for processing information access requests constitutes a violation of Article 71 of the Contravention Code, as well as the provisions of the Law on Access to Public Interest Information.

We urge the representatives of the municipality to refrain from any form of intolerance towards the media and to ensure the respect of the press’s right to access public interest information according to the conditions and deadlines established by law.

We call on the law enforcement authorities to hold accountable those responsible for hate speech and insults directed at ZdG journalists.

Independent Journalism Center

Media Guard Association

Association of Independent Press

‘Access-info’ Center

Press Freedom Committee

RISE Moldova

Environment and Ecotourism Journalists’ Association