Media nongovernmental organizations condemn the more frequent cases of imposition of restrictions by the authorities on the access of the press to events of public interest. Thus, on July 26, photo-reporter Constantin Grigorita was banned access to the meeting of President Igor Dodon with journalists at the State Residence in Condrita, even if the journalist met all the conditions imposed by the President, IPN reports.

In a public statement, the media organizations say the selective admission of representatives of the media to such events is inacceptable. The media legislation guarantees the journalists’ right to obtain and broadcast information, to make recordings, to film and photograph, while the groundless refusal to ensure the access of the press is a form of discrimination and an abuse.

“We remind the organizers of this event that the intentional hampering of the activity of the mass media and intimidation for criticism are penalized in accordance with the Penal Code of the Republic of Moldova. We request the Presidential Office and President Igor Dodon, in particular, to publicly explain the causes for the non-admission of photo-reporter Constantin Grigorita. We call on the state institutions to ensure transparency and to build the relationship with the press based on reciprocal confidence,” says the statement signed by the Independent Journalism Center, Association of Independent Press, Association of Independent Tele-Journalists, Committee for the Freedom of the Press, Electronic Press Association, Journalistic Investigations Center and Center “Acces-Info”.