Media nongovernmental organizations condemn the intimidation acts and threats against the journalist of RISE Moldova Liuba Shevchuk. It happened after the investigation portal for which the journalist works posted an investigation about possible swindles that involve a charity foundation, IPN reports.
In a press release, the media NGOs, condemning the attack, said the foundation’s administrators posted a photo of the journalist with the message “We seek help from her”, while the co-founder of the foundation Svetlana Sainsus explained that by this gesture they referred the people to the person who can help them. Later, on a social networking site Svetlana Sainsus continued to intimidate the journalist, resorting to insults.
“We describe this gesture as an act that incites hatred and as intimidation of the journalist of RISE Moldova Liuba Shevchuk, author of the investigation “Charity money” that was published on February 19. The law on the freedom of expression stipulates that the mass media have the task of informing the public about problems of public interest and of conducting journalistic investigations, in accordance with their responsibilities,” it is said in the press release.
The media organizations reminded that the words or deeds that affect the person’s dignity are liable to fines, while the intimidation of the mass media or of journalists for criticism are punished in accordance with the Penal Code. The NGOs request the Ministry of the Interior to examine this case and also ask the foundation to publicly apologize to journalist Liuba Shevchuk. The media NGOs call on the whole society not to hamper the holding of investigations on issues of public interest.
The signatories are: Independent Journalism Center, Association of Independent Press, Electronic Press Association, Journalistic Investigations Center, Committee for the Freedom of the Press, Association of Independent Tele-Journalists and the Center “Acces-info”.
