“Our Home is Moldova” (OHM) party leader Grigore Petrenco demands to be brought to court, which on November 11 will be considering the lawsuit, filed by Petrenco on the case of prohibition of broadcasting the “Russia 24” TV channel in the territory of Moldova.

 

Demands of the former MP were voiced by his lawyer Roman Aronov during Tuesday’s news conference at Infotag. He shortly reminded the prehistory of the conflict situation.

 

“Around 1.5 years ago, the Audiovisual Coordinating Council (ACC) prohibited for a period, while then completely stopped for uncertain term the broadcasting of the ‘Russia 24” TV channel. The ACC explained this by the fact that the channel is providing biased information, especially about the events in the neighboring Ukraine. Moreover, the Council said that the data are being voiced exclusively from the point of view of the Russian state power, in absence of pluralism of opinions, thus misleading the Moldovan audience”, the lawyer said.

 

He said that his client challenged this ACC decision, maintaining that each TV viewer has the right to choose which TV channel to watch and this choice should not be imposed by authorities, whose interest conductor the Audiovisual Council is.

 

“The fact of banning the “Russia 24” is, among others, a demonstration of censorship, of an undemocratic regime and smells like frankly hostile attitude to Russia. This is contrary to the friendship and cooperation agreement between the two countries”, is written in Petrenco’s statement, transmitted from the remand facility he is kept in on charges of organizing mass riots on September 6.

 

“The next meeting on civil case on prohibiting the broadcasting of the above-mentioned TV channel will take place on November 11 in the Sectorul Centru court. I demand to be brought to court as plaintiff”, says the politician’s inquiry.

 

Aronov said that the whole history of justice does not know cases, when individuals, kept in remand, to be brought to court hearings as plaintiffs in civil cases.

 

“Until the appearance of the Petrenco’s group, in Moldovan prisons were kept just hardcore criminals. They were not engaged in protecting the right on broadcasting of one or another media company; they were not demanding the canceling of tariffs or other such things. Now there is a precedent. Moreover that the Moldovan Justice Ministry’s Regulation on keeping in custody does not prohibit convoying of persons, who have the status of prisoners, are under investigation or are suspects”, the lawyer said.

 

He stated that if Petrenco’s inquiry is not satisfied in national instances, the politician reserves the right to address to the European Court of Human Rights.