Staff at the television channels Prime TV and Publika TV and the web portals www.prime.md and publika.md condemn the decision of the Commission for Exceptional Situations to suspend a number of broadcasting licenses, calling it illegal.

“By today’s abusive decision, the CSE violated the constitutional principles regarding freedom of speech and the independence of the mass media. There is no democratic state with officially imposed censorship, regardless of the reasons behind those who make abusive and illegal decisions. By suspending the broadcast of our television stations and blocking access to web news portals, the European Convention on Human Rights is also violated, in particular Article 7, which states that there is ‘no punishment without law’, and Article 10 ‘freedom of expression’, which has been brazenly violated in this case”, reads a statement from the staff.

“The reasons cited by the authorities are unfounded, a fact that can be easily demonstrated through the monitoring of the Audiovisual Council, but also of any other independent institution”, it added.

National and international media NGOs are urged to take “a critical stance” and the ombudsman to intervene. “We call on the foreign embassies and international organizations accredited in the Republic of Moldova to condemn the serious political abuse, which is repeatedly exercised on the pluralism of opinion and on the freedom of the mass media in our country”.

On Monday, the Commission for Exceptional Situations decided, on the recommendation of the Security and Intelligence Service (SIS), to suspend the licenses of six television channels during the state of emergency. The restrictions apply to Orizont TV, ITV, Prime, Publika TV, Canal 2 and Canal 3. SIS director Alexandru Musteata declared that the channels have repeatedly engaged in “violations of the legislation”, while their content “represents a threat to the information security” of Moldova.