​NGOs ANXIOUS ABOUT INSTANCES OF AGGRESSION AGAINST JOURNALISTS

Instances of aggressive behavior by political party members and supporters with respect to journalists are getting more and more often in Moldova, maintain 10 Moldovan profiled non-governmental organizations working in the mass media field. They issued a joint statement to this effect on Friday.

The document said that mass media workers receive aggressive and insulting verbal and written remarks in commentaries on news or in blogs.

For an example, the NGOs referred to the recent incident that happened to Alina Radu, Director of Ziarul de Garda newspaper, who was insulted by Veaceslav Vurlac, Head of the Democratic Party’s Criuleni Raion territorial organization, and by DP youth wing leader Ion Hargel. Alina Radu was conducting a journalist investigation into the activities of the Edelweiss charitable foundation belonging to the Executive Coordinator of the ruling coalition in Moldova, Chairman of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc.

Center for Journalist Investigation Director Cornelia Cozonac was also insulted verbally for the publication of an article about the owner of the Noroc TV company, who appears to be the Adviser to the Director General of the National Railroad Company of Moldova (CFM).

The non-governmental organizations believe that such attitude to journalists violates the media’s freedom of expression and the right to distribute information.

In Moldova, complaints against journalists can be submitted to the Press Council – a mechanism of the self-control of the media that is called to follow the observance of journalist ethic in the mass media. Politicians and political party activists may also apply to the Press Council for consultation or justice.