API condemns image attack on Ziarul de Garda

The Association of Independent Press (API) condemns the image attack on the investigative publication “Ziarul de Garda” (“Guard Newspaper”), whose logo and printing type and font were used for electoral purposes in a publication titled “ZdC Ziarul de Chisinau”. In a statement quoted by Info-Prim Neo, the Association requests the Ministry of the Interior, the Prosecutor General's Office and the Central Election Commission to investigate this case and announce who the authors are and who ordered this attack on the independent press, and to hold accountable the persons who resort to such forms of manipulating the public opinion. The API calls upon the election runners and their trustworthy persons not to use such illegal, non-democratic and immoral electoral practices. The Association urges all the owners of media outlets, the journalists, media designers and publishers not to become involved in the manipulation campaign and in denigration actions that run counter to the deontological norms and professional ethics. Papers with the printing type and font and logo of Ziarul de Garda, with only one letter changed - “ZdC” - appeared in Chisinau and other settlements of Moldova several days ago. On April 27, the editorial team of the weekly officially informed the Parliament, Government, Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of the Interior, the Security and Information Service and the Central Election Commission about the fake publication that is aimed at discrediting the editorial policy of the publication. They said the fake publication is hostile and contains anti-democratic messages and is spread through the post office boxes of the Chisinau residents.