Magistrate gives up judging Teleradio boss’s vexation

The president of Chisinau’s Rascani District Court is due to appoint another judge for the lawsuit filed by the “Teleradio-Moldova” company and its president, Valentin Todercan, against two members of the Observers Council– Veaceslav Ionita and Igor Munteanu, against the “Viitorul” Institute for Development and Social Initiatives and the “Vocea Basarabiei” radio station. Ghenadie Barnaz, the judge having dealt with the trial, gave up on Wednesday, February 27, submitting a relevant declaration, Info-Prim Neo reports. Barnaz said he was renouncing right at the beginning of the session, reasoning his wife is a colleague of Veaceslav Ionita. Another judge, examining the application and receiving no claim from the parties, admitted Barnaz’s declaration. Now the president of the Court is to appoint a new judge to consider the case. Igor Munteanu has told journalists the decision was legitimate, and the judge has the right to withdraw when he thinks there is a conflict interest. He opines the trial can last for long. Referring to the claims, Munteanu has said it’s only the question of an opinion about the quality of the TRM’s reforms, which the two members hold on. Veaceslav Tabuleac, „Vocea Basarabiei” manager, said this was a political trial. Yet he said the plaintiffs had no chance to win. Todercan’s representative did not attend Wednesday’s sitting, and Teleradio-Moldova’s lawyer left the room as soon as the session was adjourned, without talking to media. TRM and Valentin Todercan sued Observers Veaceslav Ionita and Igor Munteanu for a research titled „Teleradio Absurdistan or the stolen reform at the Public Company”, and IDIS „Viitorul” and „Vocea Basarabiei” for making it public. The plaintiffs ask from IDIS „Viitorul” and Igor Munteanu by 400,000 lei, and from Veaceslav Ionita – 500,000 lei – a total of 2.6 mln lei in damages for the prejudice they suffered. „Vocea Basarabiei” is not required to pay any damages. The study „Teleradio Absurdistan or the stolen reform at the Public Company,” made by those two Observers, particularly mentions that the new TRM leadership simulates the reform, preferring the stagnation. The model proposed by the administration is grounded on maintaining the financial subordination to the Government, on an expensive and extensive development, and on preserving the status of „political clients” of the ruling party. The Observers Council – TRM’s supervisory board -- does not fulfil its role of an authority promoting the public interest, being in the custody of the political factor, the study reads.