Media NGOs condemn the campaign of harassment and intimidation against the NordNews editorial team

The Independent Journalism Centre (IJC), together with the co-signing media NGOs, condemns the repeated pressure and attacks directed against the NordNews editorial team and its representatives. The systematic harassment of journalists, including via online platforms, cannot be regarded as a legitimate form of criticism and must not be tolerated in a democratic society.

According to information provided to the IJC, over the past year, the NordNews editorial team has faced various forms of pressure, which are reported to have intensified following the publication of a series of journalistic reports on the activities of the former director of the Bălți Clinical Hospital. Initially, the pressure took the form of telephone threats and attempts to intimidate journalists. One such incident was reported by NordNews in the article entitled ‘Head of Bălți Hospital to NordNews journalists: “I will take my revenge on you until the end of my life”’, which documented direct threats against the journalists.

Subsequently, the attacks have become public and repetitive. The NordNews portal is repeatedly targeted in posts on a Telegram channel with a significant following. The messages published contain offensive and derogatory language. At the same time, journalists and representatives of the organisation are subjected to personal attacks and attempts to discredit them professionally.

The phenomenon of online harassment of the press can no longer be treated as a series of isolated incidents. Personal attacks, degrading labels, threats and attempts to discredit newsrooms investigating matters of public interest place undue pressure on journalists and undermine citizens’ right to be informed.

We would like to reiterate that the legislation of the Republic of Moldova guarantees press freedom and protects the honour, dignity, professional reputation and safety of individuals. Threats and other actions that may constitute administrative or criminal offences must be investigated promptly, effectively and impartially by the competent authorities. A failure to respond appropriately may foster a climate of impunity and encourage the repetition of such practices.

We call on the law enforcement authorities to examine with the utmost seriousness the threats reported by NordNews representatives, to assess the risks to the safety of journalists, and to take all measures provided for by law to identify those responsible and hold them to account.

We also encourage journalists and media organisations affected by hostile campaigns to use all available legal mechanisms to protect their rights, including requesting retractions of false information, exercising the right of reply, taking legal action and seeking compensation for the harm suffered.

We call on the authors and distributors of defamatory messages to cease their attacks, to remove content containing false statements or threats, to issue a public apology to the individuals concerned, and to refrain in future from any form of intimidation, harassment or discrediting of journalists.

Independent Journalism Centre

Organisations that have endorsed the statement:

•  Acces-info Centre
• Association of Independent Press
• Press Freedom Committee
• RISE Moldova
• Media-Guard Association
• Centre for Investigative Journalism
• Association of Electronic Press
• Association of Environmental and EcoTourism Journalists of Moldova