The Center for Strategic Communication and Disinformation Fighting does not have instruments and does not intend to limit the freedom of expression or to dictate the editorial policy of media outlets, said the Center’s head Ana Revecno. She noted that the Center is being constituted and its duty is to fight disinformation and coordinated actions that endanger Moldova’s interests, IPN reports.

The Center for Strategic Communication and Disinformation Fighting was created on the initiative of President Maia Sandu, by a Parliament decision of July 2023. Ana Revenco denied the reports saying that the entity was created to institute censorship in Moldova and to suppress the press that is not obedient to the ruling party.

“The Center does not intend and does not even have instruments to limit the freedom of expression, to dictate the editorial policies or to establish the content the media aim to operationalize for distributing messages. The Center will not deal with any information or subject present in the information space. The Center is not a watchdog of every word used to deliver messages. The Center does nor replace and does not decide what the Government or the Parliament will communicate. The Center does not have the duty and will hot act as a regulator of any area that refers to the information space,” Ana Revenco stated in the program “Parallel 47” on Radio Moldova station.

The official also said that the institution is creating its team and will have the goal of strengthening cooperation between institutions in the fight against disinformation, manipulation and state interference.

“The Center’s mission will be to strengthen interinstitutional cooperation to improve communication to the citizens on issues from the agenda of the state institutions. On the other hand, we will strengthen institutional efforts to fight disinformation, manipulation and the coordinated interests that can endanger or already endanger the national interests,” said Ana Revenco.

In accordance with the law, the Center for Strategic Communication and Disinformation Fighting is led by a director named by Parliament for a five-year term at the suggestion of the President of the Republic of Moldova. The Center will have a Board consisting of 11 members designated by the public authorities and civil society, which will assess the work done by the institution.