Media NGOs Condemn the Self-Proclaimed Tiraspol Authorities’ Abuse against the Press and Demand to Immediately Release the Studio-L TV Channel Journalists
The media NGOs condemn persisting abusive and illegal practices of the separatist forces from Tiraspol against journalists and address the constitutional authorities of the Republic of Moldova demanding to ensure the immediate release of the Studio-L TV channel reporters.
On November 15, the Studio-L TV camera operators were detained by the unrecognized security force representatives in Tiraspol during their journalistic mission. We would like to draw the attention of the legitimate authorities of the Republic of Moldova to the grave breaches of human rights and freedoms guaranteed at the national and international levels due to violating individual freedoms and personal safety and breaching the special rights guaranteed to journalists.
It should be mentioned that Art. 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova provides for inviolability of individual freedom and personal safety, and pursuant to Art. 4 para. (1) of the Law on Freedom of Expression, the state shall guarantee freedom of expression of the media. Therefore, no one may prohibit or prevent the media from spreading information of public interest except pursuant to the legal provisions. Moreover, para. (5) of the same article stipulates that intentional illegal interference with the activity of the media shall entail criminal liability.
The signatory organizations vehemently condemn the abusive and illegal actions of the separatist forces from Tiraspol against journalists, and emphasize inadmissibility of tolerating such grave violations.
We hereby address the legitimate authorities of the Republic of Moldova demanding to intervene immediately in order to release the Studio-L reporters detained in Tiraspol and to take the necessary steps to ensure the rights and freedoms guaranteed to the press pursuant to the legislation.
Independent Journalism Center
Media-Guard Association
Electronic Press Association
Independent Press Association
Acces-Info Center
Center for Journalistic Investigations
Committee for Freedom of the Press
Association of Environmental and EcoTourism Journalists
RISE Moldova
