Media nongovernmental organizations called on the Ministry of the Interior and the Prosecutor General’s Office to investigate the cases of threatening with death of journalists Vasile Nastase and Constantin Cheianu and to take all the necessary measures to protect their life and physical integrity if need be, IPN reports.

According to a joint statement issued by media NGOs, such actions endanger the freedom of the media and the right to freedom of expression. “We consider that the intimidation, threatening, violence on the part of persons or forces that want to make the journalists keep silent or censorship should be condemned without reserve in a state with the rule of law,” reads the statement.

Journalist Vasile Nastase on July 15 broadcast a public notice informing the authorities and the international institutions that he was threatened with death by SMSes. Afterward, journalist Constantin Cheianu told the press that he received a similar message. The journalists consider that there is a connection between the threats and their occupation in both of the cases.

The statement was signed by the Independent Journalism Center, the Association of Independent Press, the Committee for the Freedom of the Press, the Journalistic Investigations Center, “Acces-info” Center, and the Young Journalist’s Center of Moldova.