{"id":49919,"date":"2025-04-02T12:24:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T09:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cji.md\/?p=49919"},"modified":"2025-04-02T19:40:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T16:40:49","slug":"49919","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cji.md\/en\/49919\/","title":{"rendered":"We Condemn Tiraspol\u2019s So-Called \u201cLegislative\u201d Initiative to Undermine Press Freedom and Urge Moldova\u2019s Constitutional Authorities to Take Immediate Action"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Independent Journalism Center, alongside the undersigned media NGOs, strongly condemns the latest attempt by Tiraspol\u2019s separatist forces to suppress press freedom. This time, they have introduced a so-called \u201clegislative\u201d initiative aimed at penalizing journalists who report from the Transnistrian region without accreditation.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

On March 31, Tiraspol\u2019s self-proclaimed \u201clegislature\u201d published<\/a> a draft regulation proposing administrative fines for \u201cforeign\u201d journalists\u2014including those from the right bank of the Dniester\u2014who conduct journalistic activities in the region without prior approval from the separatist authorities.<\/p>\r\n

According to the draft:<\/p>\r\n

\u201cEngaging in professional activities on the territory of the \u2018Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic\u2019 without accreditation by journalists of media outlets registered in foreign states, as well as engaging in journalistic activities by freelance media workers, shall result in an administrative fine of up to 10 RU MZP <\/em>(approximately 160 MDL) for individuals, and between 20 <\/em>(approximately 300 MDL) and 50 <\/em>(approximately 800 MDL) RU MZP for persons with special liability.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\n

The so-called explanatory note<\/a> accompanying the initiative states that fines will be imposed by the region’s \u201cmilitia\u201d and the \u201cbodies responsible for press oversight and media supervision.\u201d Tiraspol\u2019s stated intention is to counteract the \u201cspread of false information\u201d and the publication of \u201cnegative materials\u201d about life in the Transnistrian region.<\/p>\r\n

The undersigned organizations vehemently condemn these illegal and abusive actions by the separatist forces in Tiraspol against journalists. We stress that such attempts to \u201clegislate\u201d additional[1]<\/a> instruments to suppress press freedom are completely unacceptable.<\/p>\r\n

This so-called \u201cbill\u201d is part of a broader series of unlawful and oppressive actions by the separatist regime in Tiraspol against media representatives. These actions include the illegal detention of Studio-L TV cameramen (November 15, 2024<\/a>), journalist Timofei Iliu\u0219in (June 24, 2024<\/a>), and TV8 journalist Viorica T\u0103taru (January 24, 2024<\/a>), as well as the declaration of photojournalist Elena Covalenco as \u201cundesirable\u201d (September 21, 2023<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n

We call on Moldova\u2019s constitutional authorities to take urgent and decisive action to ensure the immediate withdrawal of this so-called legislative initiative and to put an end to the ongoing repression of media freedom by Tiraspol\u2019s separatist forces.<\/p>\r\n

Furthermore, we urge the international community\u2014particularly diplomatic actors engaging with the self-proclaimed authorities in Tiraspol, including the OSCE Mission in Moldova, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the EU Delegation, and embassies of EU member states\u2014to strongly condemn this attack on press freedom. We call on them to raise this issue in diplomatic dialogues and to condition any international support for the region on the respect for fundamental human rights, including freedom of the press.<\/p>\r\n

Independent Journalism Center<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Organizations that have joined the statement:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n