Moldovan judiciary bars Romanian TV from broadcasting in Moldova

The Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) has given the case to the Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) in the suit filed by the Romanian Public Television Society after it had been deprived from the right to broadcast in Moldova, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the barrister of the TV station, Janeta Hanganu, the SCJ has upheld the writ of the Court of Appeals from Chisinau from 17 March, 2008, who ruled as groundless the station's claims and rejected its appeal. Janeta Hanganu calls “politically influenced” the SCJ's decision. “We did not hope for much, anyway.” She hints the procedure has been violated by the Moldovan judiciary in this suit. “It's an example confirming the lack of independence of the Moldovan justice. There was obvious evidence of breaching the station's rights, however the Court has not ruled in the plaintiff's favor,” Janeta Hanganu said. Remus Codreanu, a lawyer employed by the station, says the society will sue the case at the ECHR the coming months, claiming the violation of the right to property. “The ECHR recognizes the legal entities as citizens. We had a right recognized in a protocol with the BCC and a license. We have been unfortunately abusively deprived of this right. We plan to secure this right through the ECHR,” Remus Codreanu said. On 31 July, 2007, the BCC put up for bidding the 2nd national TV network, used by TVR 1, arguing no new contract was managed to be signed with the Romanian TV, who would have owed $150,000 to state-run "Radiocomunicatii". On September 27, the BCC gave the frequency to "2 Plus", owned by "Telefe-M International". The Romanian TV filed the suit claiming it was entitled to have the license till 2011 and demanding damages worth 500,000 euros. Other two stations using national TV networks are Moldova 1 and the Russian ORT.