Mass media nongovernmental organisations are concerned about the fact that the authorities do not react to the incidents when journalists’ rights are violated and the public is denied access to information, after they assumed obligations and commitments to observe the freedom of the media. In a joint statement quoted by Info-Prim Neo, five media NGOs protest against the way in which the Moldovan president’s guard treated a group of journalists in the evening of January 18. Violating the stipulations of the law on the press and exceeding their authority, the president’s bodyguards denied access to the reporters of two television channel and a publication even if the journalists agreed with the organisers to film the event. The journalists were forced to erase parts of the recording containing images of Vladimir Voronin taken outside the National Palace, the statement says. The signatories made reference to a similar incident when a reporter was mistreated by the president’s guard while filming Vladimir Voronin, who was taking part in the inauguration of the Country’s Tree. Under the law on the press, “the interference in the activity of the press aimed at preparing and broadcasting information (art.1) is forbidden”, while the journalist has the right to obtain and pass on information, record, film and photograph, take part in protests, demonstrations and other public events while in the line of duty. “The confiscation of journalists’ notes is forbidden. The technical means can be confiscated only when they are evidence in a legal case” (art.20). The signatory NGOs demand that the persons to blame for the mistreatment of journalists and for violating the right to obtaining and passing on information be punished, as such incidents could become an ordinary practice in Moldova. The statement was signed by the Independent Journalism Centre, the Independent Press Association, the Electronic Press Association, the Union of Journalists of Moldova, “Acces-Info” Centre and the Journalistic Investigation Centre.