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Media NGOs Urge Authorities Not to Discredit Journalists

01 December 2017
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Media NGOs are concerned about the latest statement of Prime Minister Pavel Filip in connection with the media’s critical attitude towards the actions of authorities.

Speaking about Moldova’s recent progress in foreign policy, Prime Minister made it clear that the media are involved in a propaganda campaign aimed at minimizing the successes achieved by authorities. “...I consider all those who attack – the media, political groups of the so-called opposition – to be not opponents of authorities, but opponents of modernization of Moldova, and first of all opponents of its citizens”, Pavel Filip said.

We believe that such insinuations and veiled charges, expressed at the highest level and subsequently taken over by all layers of society through the channels supporting the government, contribute to the radicalization of public discourse and discredit the journalists who do their job professionally in order to ensure the proper functioning of democracy. It is inacceptable that the media criticizing authorities and promoting responsibility of political class be compared to a public enemy.

Please remember that the role of the media includes supervision of the activities of officials and politicians and correct information of citizens. But supervision means constant control and critical presentation of activities in the political field.

We urge public authorities and top officials to comply with the current legislation, democratic rules, and generally accepted standards of public discourse, so as not to allow violation of the legitimate rights of journalists in performance of their job.
 
Independent Journalism Center
Journalistic Investigations Center
Association of Independent TV Journalists
Press Freedom Committee
“Acces-Info” Center