An “Enemies of the Press” billboard has been posted today outside Parliament to mark the World Press Freedom Day. With a selection compiled by the Independent Press Association, the hoarding shames parties and lawmakers for verbal or physical aggression, for obstruction of access to information, and for intolerance towards journalists.
The Shor Party in its entirety, as well as its leaders Ilan Shor and Marina Tauber, together with Socialist Oleg Savva are shamed on the billboard for instances of verbal or physical aggression against reporters. The Shor Party is named again, alongside the Democratic Party and Democrat lawmaker Vladimir Andronache, as stonewallers. The ex-Speaker Andrian Candu, and ACUM’s Maria Ciobanu and Andrei Năstase are on the board for intolerant fits directed at journalists.
“By posting this billboard, we want to remind politicians once again that the role of the press, of journalists is to document and inform the public about the problems of the government, and the role of the government is to inform themselves from the press and address those problems, not get back at journalists”, stated Nadine Gogu, director of the Independent Journalism Center.
Finding his name on the billboard, MP Andrei Năstase seemed unapologetic. He said it was an “honor” for him that “after nine years of sustained slander” against him from “Plahotniuc’s media holding”, he came to be criticized for “just warning a journalist from that holding that she was manipulating public opinion”. Năstase said he has always been, and will always remain patient with all reporters, “including with those who don’t know what deontology is, what decency is, and instead of correctly informing the people, spread misinformation”.
Cornelia Cozonac, president of the Investigative Journalism Center, said journalism is a great profession as it gives you the satisfaction of serving the public interest. Cozonac added that the lawmakers on the billboard can no longer be considered honest since attacking journalists is against the law.
Journalist Viorica Tătaru said that while working on the ground she encountered numerous cases of both verbal and physical aggression. “Most often the culprits are public servants, which proves that public institutions don’t instruct their employees, failing to tell them that the press may have access and the press is free”.
Today’s event is part of the Press Freedom Days In Moldova that started today and will continue throughout the month.
