ACC is cited as codefendant in the lawsuit of Antena C and Euro TV filed against CMC and former interim mayor

The Audiovisual Coordinating Council (ACC) will be cited as codefendant in the case filed against the Chisinau Municipal Council and former interim mayor Vasile Ursu by the staffers at Antena C and Euro TV stations. This decision was announced by Judge Mihai Ciugureanu, who is examining the case. The employees’ attorney qualifies this decision as an attempt to delay the examination. The plaintiffs’ lawyer Maria Orlov forwarded a request to the judge asking him to give details about the legality of ACC’s recommendation on reorganisation of the two institutions. The court decided that ACC be cited as codefendant and adjourned the examination until February 7, 10.00 am. Orlov disputed this decision mentioning that she wanted the court only to give details about the recommendation and not to involve the national audiovisual authority in the lawsuit. But these arguments were not taken into account. Maria Orlov told reporters that ACC was not sued, as the recommendation has no legal effect. Nevertheless, CMC took the decision to reorganise the two stations on the basis of this recommendation. So, the Municipal Council is the one to face the lawsuit, and not the Audiovisual Council, which made this recommendation coincidently, she stated. Orlov qualified the judge’s decision as an attempt to delay the examination of the case. Head of the Legal Assistance Division of CMC Ghenadie Gluscenco stated that it was not ACC’s recommendation but the Broadcasting Code that laid at the basis of the CMC’s decision regarding the reorganisation of the state-owned stations. Over 30 employees working at the two stations requested to urgently suspend the procedure of selling the two institutions and annul the precursory normative documents; to cancel interim mayor’s orders regarding the appointment of new managers of the TV channel and radio station; to oblige CMC and interim mayor to re-establish the proper functioning conditions of the institutions; to oblige CMC and interim mayor to pay damages amounting to MLD 100 thousand for each claimant. The plaintiffs told a press conference they will invest this money in developing the two institutions.