We condemn the restriction of journalist Nokta Vlada Verșinina’s access to a public court hearing in the criminal case of Evghenia Guțul and request the urgent intervention of the Superior Council of Magistracy

The Independent Journalism Center, together with the co-signing organizations, expresses its concern and condemns the court’s decision to exclude Nokta journalist Vlada Verșinina from a public hearing on May 16, 2025, in the criminal case against defendant Evghenia Guțul, Bashkan of Gagauzia, for the crime of illegal financing of political parties.

According to the Nokta editorial office, the restriction was ordered by Judge Ana Cucerescu at the request of the defendant’s lawyer, based on allegations that during previous hearings, the journalist had made audio recordings without the court’s authorization. The only “evidence” presented were copies of published articles and the lawyer’s assumptions that the quotes were “too accurate.” Furthermore, the defendant’s lawyer argued that the journalist’s wording would negatively influence public opinion about Evghenia Guts and the trial. These statements were not accompanied by any conclusive evidence of an alleged violation of court order. The prosecutor in the case did not identify any irregularities in the journalist’s publications, and Vlada Verșinina requested the right to present her own notes saved in Telegram — with time stamps proving that she reported in real time, without using a recording device. However, the court refused to hear her on the grounds that she was not a party to the proceedings and decided to remove her from the courtroom.

We believe that this case sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the principle of press freedom, as well as the principle of transparency in the administration of justice, especially in high-profile cases that are of particular public interest and involve close scrutiny by the public in general and the press in particular. Court hearings are, according to the law, public, and restricting press access is only permitted under strictly regulated and justified conditions. The exclusion of a journalist based solely on subjective allegations by the defendant’s lawyer and illusory suspicions, not confirmed by sufficient and conclusive evidence, affects the public’s right to be informed and contravenes democratic norms regarding the transparency of the administration of justice.

We call on the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) to take up this case and assess the magistrate’s actions from the perspective of the proportionality and legality of the measure applied. At the same time, we call on the courts of the Republic of Moldova to respect the role of the press in providing prompt, objective, and accurate information to citizens on the course of justice and not to resort to abusive and disproportionate measures to restrict journalists’ access to public court hearings.

Independent Journalism Center

Media-Guard Association

Association of Environmental and EcoTourism Journalists of Moldova

Association of Electronic Press

Association of Independent Press

Center for Investigative Journalism

Press Freedom Committee

RISE Moldova

Access-Info Center