The Association of Independent Telejournalists and the reporters of Ziarul de Garda papers on April 5 made public a statement on the state of journalism in Moldova, asking the authorities to stop the intimidation of journalists and to ensure access to information about cases of corruption involving public servants and the actions taken by the inspection authorities in the cases of fraud, bribery, traffic of influence, and money laundering reported by the press, IPN reports.
Alina Radu, program director of the Association of Independent Telejournalists and director of Ziarul de Garda, said that after the appearance of investigations or information about cases of corruption involving politicians, ministers, judges, members of the National Integrity Commission and the National Anticorruption Center, a number of public attacks were made on the reporters. There were made accusations, including from the Parliament’s rostrum, or published reproving communiqués on the websites of the Supreme Council of Magistrates and other public institutions.
Alina Radu said the reporters are often the target of lawsuits filed by politicians, who ask for large sums of money for the alleged damage caused to their image. But the fact that the investigative reporters are the targets of anonymous, direct, telephonic or electronic attacks is the most serious as they feel unprotected from them. “The investigative journalists were often told to pay large sums of money to public institutions for having access to information, especially information from the Cadastre Office and about the registration of companies, businesses, units of transport and other property,” stated Alina Radu.
According to her, the investigative journalism is the most costly and difficult kind of press owing to the challenges, limitations and constraints. “A state that claims to be abiding by the European values, ensuring transparency and combating corruption must approve of the investigative journalists’ effort and create conditions for development. The creation of a fund for use by NGOs would be a step towards supporting investigative journalism for combating corruption,” said Alina Radu.
Three years ago, the Association of Independent Telejournalists and Ziarul de Garda launched the TV and radio program “Reporter de Garda” (“Reporter on Guard”) within a project financed by USAID as part of the Moldova Civil Society Strengthening Program that is implemented by FHI 360.
