Antena C under siege

After the Municipal Council dismissed the manager of Antena C station Vasile State, the new leadership of Radio Antena C has taken hold of its office by force on Friday evening, December 15, a statement of the Resistance Committee of Antena C and Euro TV says, cited by Info-Prim Neo. According to this statement, around 18.00, the new director Veaceslav Satnic, accompanied by the interim mayor Vasile Ursu, leader of the PCRM faction Svetlana Popa, mayor’s counsellor in security issues, and numerous policemen set foot in the radio station’s offices and occupied by force the manager’s office. Two policemen permanently guard the building’s second floor, and other two the first one. Moreover, two policemen entered the broadcasting studio, intimidating with their presence the studio presenter. The policemen, who stated that they represent the criminal department, said that they were ordered not to leave Antena C in order to prevent violations of public order. Antena C – Euro-TV Resistance Committee considers that the presence of law enforcement bodies represents a flagrant violation of the internal regulations. It is also a psychological intimidation, a pressure exercised over the editorial policy, which is an attempt against the free circulation of information and the uncensored expression of ideas and opinions, the statement concludes. Vasile State told Info-Prim Neo that he had been even threatened by the leader of the PPCD Alexandru Corduneanu, if he does not give up station’s leadership. Any attempt to solve this problem amiably failed, he added. Veaceslav Satnic refused to make any comments, saying just that he came to have a conversation with the members of the staff. Friday evening Vasile Nastase, newly appointed director of Euro TV Chisinau, visited the TV station, but the members of the staff didn’t allow him in, saying they didn’t recognize his leadership.