The work of the Jurnal de Chisinau newspaper remains paralyzed because its bank accounts are frozen. Newspaper director Val Butnaru has told Info-Prim Neo the situation is tense and that the next issue of the newspaper may not appear. The accounts were sequestered a week ago, following a writ issued by the Chisinau Centru Court. However the newspaper was informed only yesterday, April 22. The management intends to appeal the writ at the Court of Appeals. The Centru Court decided to apply the sequester on an amount of 300,000 lei, after the newspaper was sued by a former prosecutor from Donduseni, now living in Edinet. The plaintiff accuses the publication of having marred his honor and dignity in two articles published 5 years ago. The newspaper director says the writ is a political order, as the file is fabricated. “The writ is pursuing to liquidate the publication and to paralyze our newspaper,” says Val Butnaru. According to him, asked by the newspaper’s reporters, the former prosecutor could not provide concrete answers as to the situation. Val Butnaru considers that the plaintiff is not aware of the lawsuit. The journalist believes the former prosecutor signed a decision the authorities took over. Jurnal de Chisinau is determined to sue Moldova at the ECHR, in case the national courts do not insure the justice. According Val Butnaru, it is a severe violation of the right to free speech.