Media NGOs warn about the worsening work conditions for investigative journalists in Moldova. The organizations have asked national authorities and international bodies to take a stance regarding the attempts to intimidate investigative journalists by some people and public institutions, IPN reports.
According to a joint statement, journalist Mariana Rata announced on August 16 that her phone and social network accounts were being monitored by unknown persons and she was also notified that her IP was being used by a someone else’s computer. According to her, this started after an interview with “a person who is really uncomfortable for the regime”. Rata complained about the lack of safety for investigative journalists in Moldova. Previously, TV host Natalia Morari had claimed to have information that she would become the target of slander in retaliation to some reveals made during her TV show.
The signers of the petition say that there have been other cases when investigative journalists were subjected to pressure. They also referred to the recent statement of the Ministry of Justice Vladimir Cebotari who said that “the press is no longer a credible source of information” and, as such, the National Integrity Authority would not react anymore to journalistic investigations about the assets and interests of officials. The NGOs say such assertions are extremely grave and are meant to reduce the impact and efficiency of mass media reveals about corruption, frauds and conflicts of interests.
“We want to stress that threatening and intimidating journalists is inadmissible and that authorities have an obligation to ensure the freedom of press and safety of journalists”, reads the joint statement.
The NGOs want the Parliament and the government to develop additional amendments to existing legislation in order to guarantee the protection of journalists from intimidation and other kinds of abuse. They also want the law regulating the activity of the National Integrity Agency to include the latter’s duty to act on the relevant investigations published by independent reporters and mass media, who respect the profession’s ethical principles.
The statement was signed by the Association of Independent Press, the Center for Independent Journalism, the Association of Electronic Press, the Center of Journalistic Investigations, the Association of Independent TV Journalists, the Committee for Freedom of Press, the Access-Info Center and the Center of the Young Journalist of Moldova.
