Officials are afraid to offer free access to information, Acces-Info

In Moldova, the ordinary functionary prefers to be punished for denying access to information than for communicating information that wasn’t meant for the large public. The declaration was made by the head of the Center for promoting freedom of expression and access to information “Acces-Info” Vasile Spinei, Info-Prim Neo reports. “I have the impression that the small official is still afraid and prefers being punished for not providing information than for leaking it”, Vasile Spinei said during a public debate on the occasion of the Right to Know Days. Valeriu Prohnitchi, executive director of the Analytic Center “Expert-Grup”, said that in recent years the interaction between journalists and authorities had been mostly positive. “There still is this fear. Functionaries don’t want to offer information without the permission of the boss. It’s because society isn’t reformed enough”, said Valeriu Prohnitchi. The “Expert-Grup” director encouraged journalists to go beyond superficial cases. He feels that the press abandoned the practice of researching particular cases thoroughly. Valeriu Prohnitchi brought up the example of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit in Chisinau, saying that it is still unknown how much Moldova spent on the organization of the event. Vasile Spinei and Valeriu Prohnitchi voiced their opinions during the public debates “The right to know – the right to live home like in Europe”, organized with the support of the German Foundation Hanns Seidel as part of the project “European integration as a national idea with the potential of strengthening Moldovan society”. The Right to Know Days take place between September 24 and 30.