Media organisations seek reinstatement of journalists of “Antena C” and “Euro TV Chisinau”

Eight non-governmental organisations have signed a joint statement requesting from central and local public authorities to ensure “the immediate resumption of activity in normal regime” of the “Antena C” and “Euro TV Chisinau” municipal stations. Interim mayor of the Independent Journalism Centre (IJC), Corina Cepoi, condemned on Monday, December 18, at a press conference, the last days’ actions taken against the staffs of two broadcasting institutions, especially the forced evacuation of journalists from the headquarters of the radio station and its sealing up. According to the quoted source, the respective actions are antidemocratic and do not show in any way the correctness declared by the municipal authorities as concerns the reorganisation of “Antena C” and ‘Euro TV”, according to the Audiovisual Code. Corina Cepoi criticised the fact that the situation broke out on the eve of winter holidays, when the majority of international organisations are on Christmas holiday. Chairman of the Independent Press Association (IPA), Petru Macovei, mentioned that he supports the privatization of the municipal TV and radio stations in the context of the process of denationalising the press, for which the IPA pleads. The condition is that the transformation must be transparent and not violate the right to freedom of expression, the expert says. “If we accept the situation in which “Antena C” and “Euro TV Chisinau” find themselves, we create a precedent. There is no certitude that tomorrow another media institution will not fall prey to the same public interests. It is the moment for journalists to make a common cause in fighting for the freedom of press”, Macovei mentioned. Media NGO leaders announced that the joint statement is one of the planned actions. If need be, the organisation of some protest actions is not excluded, though they insisted on certain judicial methods to overcome the crisis. The statement was signed by IJC, IPA, Association of Electronic Media, Access-Info Centre, Media Impact agency, Centre of Young Journalists, Journalists’ Union of Moldova, Committee for Freedom of Press. The League of Professional Journalists announced their intention to sign the statement at the press conference as well.