The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has issued a statement in response to the recent allegation made by a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson that media freedom has “degraded” in Moldova, by saying the assertion is at variance with the findings by prestigious international organizations monitoring press freedom.

Following the recent decision of the Moldovan Audiovisual Council to fine four local TV channels, Ivan Neceaev, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that media freedom in Moldova “has degraded” and that the Moldovan authorities “are putting pressure on independent and opposition media”.

In response, MFAEI says that the allegation “does not correspond to reality”: “The Republic of Moldova advanced in the Press Freedom Index and in the fight against propaganda. According to the Reporters Without Borders organization, the Republic of Moldova ranked 40th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index ranking. This is a 49 positions jump from last year.”

According to the MFAEI, the authorities will continue to make efforts to contribute to correct information and to building a civil society and a media independent of any interests. “Pluralism, independence and safety of journalists are basic components of the right to free expression and information, essential elements for the democratic functioning of the state”, the MFAEI added.