Investigative journalists in Moldova will be able to receive free legal assistance from the organisation Lawyers for Human Rights thanks to a project carried out as part of the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Threshold Country Programme. The announcement was made at a news conference on Monday, February 18, Info-Prim Neo reports. On 1 January 2008, thanks to the financial support of the U.S. Government, the Lawyers for Human Rights launched the project themed “Free Legal Assistance to Investigative Journalists”, which is intended for Moldovan reporters researching, preparing, and authoring investigative reports. For the first time in Moldova, a hotline (260937) was created to offer quick and direct legal advice. According to Vitalie Zeama, representative of the organisation, prior to releasing their reports, investigative journalists will be able to get help in order to avoid legal traps that could make them or the media institution behind them vulnerable to persecutions and legal proceedings. In addition, the organisation will eagerly provide pro bono representation in domestic courts. Lawyer Olivia Partac, representative of the International Research & Exchanges Board, said that the goal of the project is to encourage investigative journalism. Such kind of investigations occur rather rarely in the Moldovan media and one of the reasons is that reporters feel defenceless, including before the judiciary, Olivia Partac explained. The project is supported by the Strengthening Civil Society Monitoring Capacity in Moldova (SCSMCM) Programme, administered by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), as part of the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Threshold Country Programme. The programme is implemented by the Academy for Educational Development with the technical support of the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX).