Media NGOs Ask the MIA to Investigate the Return of the Two Russian Journalists to Moscow from Chisinau International Airport

Civil society organizations specialized in the media ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to initiate an internal investigation on the reasons why the Border Police prohibited two journalists of the Russian station RTVI to cross the Moldovan border.

According to the RTVI website, the journalists were to get to Chisinau on Tuesday, January 23, and this visit was agreed with the presidential administration. The journalists say that at the request of the Border Police they presented the official invitation of President Igor Dodon and a letter from the management of RTVI confirming the purpose of the visit.

In their turn, the Border Police claimed that the journalists failed to meet the conditions required for crossing the border because they could not justify the purpose of the visit. “At the border control they said that they had scheduled a meeting in Moldova, and presented an alleged request for an interview with the head of the state, but they could not confirm the acceptance of this request. This was why they were not allowed to cross the state border, and they were returned with the next flight,” said the representatives of the Border Police.

We are asking the Ministry of Internal Affairs to investigate this incident and to take the necessary measures if it is found that the Border Police acted contrary to the legislation. We reiterate that unfounded limitations of movement are in contradiction with national legislation and with international conventions in this field.

Independent Journalism Center
Association of Electronic Press
Press Freedom Committee
Journalistic Investigations Center
“Acces-Info” Center