The creation of the Center “Patriot”, which was announced to be a national information defense and propaganda combating center, is a new blow to democracy in the Republic of Moldova prepared by the government, considers journalist Svetlana Curmei, a member of the platform “Stop Media Banˮ. According to her, this body will not be independent and will be fully controlled by the President of the country.
In a news conference hosted by IPN, Svetlana Curmei said that President Maia Sandu will appoint the institution’s director. “As the initiator of this center announced, the institution will fight propaganda and disinformation and will disseminate true information among the citizens. I think we all realized already that this institution in reality will not distinguish objective information from false information, but will protect the government from unpleasant information referring to it. We will be now all told what to say, what is correct and what is not correct. Does this match the principles of democracy, the freedoms and values on which the European Union has always been based, towards which we tend? Shall a candidate for membership of the European Union act like this?” asked Svetlana Curmei. The journalist called on all those who really care about the freedom of expression to join the “Stop Media Banˮ platform.
Journalist Alexei Lungu, another member of the platform, said that this platform is open to everyone – to those who now have pro-governmental views and also to those who are in the opposition. There will be made no difference between Russian language press, Romanian language press and other journalists.
Journalist Ludmila Belchenkova said that not many journalists doubt it that the reporters from opposition TV channels will be the first to be penalized after the “Patriot” Center starts work. Not all the persons who support the government and who took part in her program understood this decision. But this fact is not important for the government and this therefore goes on.
Journalist Tatiana Țurcan stated that at news conferences organized by representatives of the government, priority is always given to the mates from the press that polishes the image of the Party of Action and Solidary, Maia Sandu, Parliament Speaker and the whole government team. “For us, they do not find time or close the microphones or now even do not find space for us,” she said.
Lawyer Natalia Bayram, a civic activist, said that she could not remain indifferent to the violation of the freedom of expression and joined the “Stop Media Banˮ platform. She made a call to all the international organizations. “We ask to take all the possible measures to ensure the observance of the rights of journalists, civic activists so that they state their opinion without the involvement of the public authorities. A country that aspires to become a member of the European Union is a state in which the human rights are respected and they represent a value,” noted Natalia Bayram.
Note: IPN News Agency offers the right of reply to persons who consider they were touched by the news items produced based on statements of the organizers of the given news conference, including by facilitating the organization of another news conference in similar conditions.
