The Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) at the public meeting on November 30 imposed fines of MDL 10,000 on Accent TV and NTV Moldova and a fine of MDL 5,000 on RTR Moldova. 

The fines were imposed for violation of the principle of pluralism of sources and because the above stations’ coverage of the local referendum for dismissal of Dorin Chirtoaca from the position of general mayor of Chisinau (which took place on November 19, 2017) was not responsible, balanced, or impartial. The BCC issued, by consensus, reprimands to the public television Moldova 1 and the station ITV for the same violations, and public warnings to televisions Prime, Canal 3, and Publika TV for failure to abide by the principle of using several sources to report on situations of conflict.

The decision was made after examination of the second report on monitoring the referendum campaign.

According to the monitoring report, TV stations Accent TV and NTV Moldova massively covered the position of one contestant, while the other contestant was presented only in a negative light.

Overall, the main newscasts of 12 TV stations were monitored in terms of compliance with electoral legislation: Moldova 1, Prime, Canal 3, RTR Moldova, Publika TV, TV 8, Accent TV, Pro TV Chișinău, Jurnal TV, ITV, Ren Moldova, and NTV Moldova.