ANTI-RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA LAW ENTERED INTO FORCE IN MOLDOVA

The much-disputed Law on amending the Moldovan Audiovisual Code, stipulating struggle against certain foreign propaganda, has entered into force on February 12, Audiovisual Coordinating Council (ACC) representatives have reminded.

According to the said Law, Moldovan television channels and radio stations will now on be permitted to transmit news, information-analytical, political and military programs retransmitted only from those countries, which have ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, as well as from the United States, European Union member countries and Canada. In plainer words, this restriction means that Moldovan broadcasters must now exclude such programs prepared by Russian TV companies that are cast in Moldova because Russia has not yet ratified the Convention, though has signed it. According to the Law on struggle against the Russian propaganda approved by the Moldovan parliamentary majority on last December 7, violations of the document's provisions are punishable with fines of 40,000 to 70,000 lei, and in case of repeated violations - up to 100,000 lei and even a possible revocation of broadcasting licenses.

The ACC has convened for a meeting that began at 2 pm on Monday to approve general program concepts of certain broadcasting companies.

According to the idea of the Law authors - the ruling Democratic Party of Moldova - the said restrictions should ensure the information security of the Moldovan State and Moldovan society from "foreign misinformation and manipulations".

The Law in question caused and is continuing to cause an ambiguous reaction in the society. From the very beginning, the Law has acquired a reputation of a document perceived and composed for combating the 'Russian propaganda' i.e. to shield the Moldovan public from information programs coming from Russia.