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Media NGOs condemn the abuses of the people who prevented Ziarul de Garda (ZdG) journalists from reflecting the events organised by Orhei Mayoralty for the town’s Day, which took place on the territory of ‘OrheiLand’ amusement park on 8 November 2018.
Thus, journalists Viorica Tataru and Ecaterina Alexandr from ZdG were summoned by some security guardians, who made sure the event was safe, not to film and interview the guests on the ground that ZdG journalists were not invited and that they had no accreditation to do so.
Note that ‘OrheiLand’ amusement park, according to the extract from the Real Estate Register, property of Orhei municipality, belongs to the Mayoralty and is a public place. And the request for accreditation to reflect the events taking place in a public space has no legal basis.
We would like to mention that the media legislation guarantees the press representatives the right to participate in the public events and manifestations, obtain and distribute information, make audiovisual recordings, film and take pictures.
We emphasise that such deeds, when journalists’ rights are restricted, are incompatible with the national legislation and with the international standards on freedom of the press.
Article 1801 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova provides for the criminal liability for intentional obstruction to the activity of a media outlet or a journalist.
We remind the local public authorities from Orhei that freedom of press is one of the core democracy values embedded in the Constitution.
We demand that the General Prosecutor’s Office acts on its own initiative with respect to this case to hold liable the people who violated the legal rights of the journalists.
Independent Journalism Center
Association of Independent Press
Association of Electronic Press
Center for Investigative Journalism
Press Freedom Committee
Association of Independent TV Journalists
‘Access-Info’ Center
RISE Moldova
