PGO accused of putting pressure on Publika TV
- 14.01.2012 14:30
- 945
- 2 minute(s)
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The news channel Publika TV is accusing the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) of exerting pressure on its editorial policy. This comes after the PGO on Friday issued a press release in which it accused the channel of “erroneously” linking a prosecutorial investigation against Traffic Police chief Sergiu Armasu to an incident in which Culture Minister Boris Focsa was allegedly caught drunk behind the wheel and which was reported by Publika TV.
According to the PGO, “Publika TV has made it a habit of making totally groundless allegations and interfering in the affairs of the law enforcement bodies”.
In retort, Publika TV issued a press release of its own to lament the fact that their legitimate attempt to obtain information about the investigation against Sergiu Armasu resulted merely in a statement from the PGO in which the channel was accused of misinforming the public.
“It is with regret that Publika TV sees that a piece of information of major public interest – the criminal investigation against Traffic Police chief Sergiu Armasu, about which Publika TV has reported in its newscasts and talks shows – has become ground for attacks on the part of the Prosecutor General's Office. According to the Constitution, the Law on the Right to Information and the Press Law, citizens have the right to be informed and reporters have the right to request and receive information of public interest”, the news channel said in its release.
On the investigation against Sergiu Armasu, the PGO informed the media that on January 5 it received a complaint from a police officer accusing Armasu of abuse of authority. Criminal proceedings were initiated the same day, and on January 6 Armasu's office was searched. The PGO further noted that the incident with Minister Focsa occurred later that day, suggesting that there was no casual relationship between the investigation and the incident.
