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Monthly Bulletin, December 2019
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The Independent Journalism Centre (IJC) and the Press Freedom Committee awarded the journalists of the year 2019 at the 25th Annual Press Club Gala, organized on December 19 in Chisinau. The main purpose of the award is to support and encourage the efforts of journalists to produce high quality journalism, adhering to international professional standards. This edition of the anniversary Gala offered ten awards in seven categories: Editorial, Investigation, Video Report, Print Media, Podcast, Longread and Photography. As in previous years, the organizers of the Gala also offered special prizes – Hope of the Year, Best Blog, Evolution of the Year, Innovative Journalism. The Award of Excellence was awarded to Vladimir Besleaga.
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A video that captured the main moments experienced by Moldovan journalists was broadcast during the 25th Annual Press Club Gala. The video, made by IJC, reflects the restricted access of journalists to events of public interest both in the capital and in regions across the country; the verbal threats and aggression they were subjected to in the course of their work, and the protest actions they participated in to defend their rights. Special focus was placed on the events of June 2019, which resulted in attacks against journalists and gross violations of their supreme right – to inform citizens objectively. Also, the video contains footage about the recent case concerning wiretaps and the summoning of journalists to the Prosecutor's Office as witnesses.
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After the statements made by the former Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee for National Security, Defense and Public Order, Chiril Motpan (MP from the ACUM faction, DA Platform), that the Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) and MIA allegedly stood behind the wiretaps of protesters, journalists and civic activists, the case was examined on December 4 by the Supreme Security Council (SSC). President Igor Dodon told reporters that most of the wiretaps made between 2018 and 2019 – totaling approximately 10,000 - were carried out by the structures of the MIA, and that SIS would have initiated only 600 of them. This year, MIA would have conducted 3,300 wiretaps, and SIS – 200. President Dodon added that he intended to learn more about the justifications for conducting the wiretaps, and that he believed the number of wiretaps grew as the election campaign drew nearer. Note that SIS previously rejected the accusations made by MP Motpan about the institution’s alleged involvement in the wiretaps. Alexandru Jizdan, former Minister of Internal Affairs and Gheorghe Cavcaliuc, Deputy Head of the General Police Inspectorate, also rejected the accusations. |
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57 individuals, including journalists and representatives of civil society, who were included on the list of those wiretapped in recent years by Moldovan law enforcement bodies, were summoned as witnesses by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office in relation to a criminal investigation on this case. The representatives of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office claim that the criminal file was initiated following the request of PPDA MP, Chiril Motpan, who made the list of wiretapped individuals public. According to the prosecutor on this case, Grigore Niculita, the individuals were summoned as witnesses to confirm their phone numbers from 2015 and 2019, which would establish whether they were wiretapped. If wiretapping is proven, it would constitute a criminal violation of the right to privacy.
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Media NGOs once again brought the draft law on amending and supplementing seven key laws on media activity to the attention of the current Parliament. The draft included amendments to the Law on Access to Information, Law on Freedom of Expression, Law on Personal Data Protection, Petitions Law, Contravention Code, Law on State Secret and Law on Press. The document was originally developed by the Parliamentary Working Group on Improving the Media Legislation, and was registered with the Parliament on July 26, 2018; however, it has yet to be discussed in the parliamentary committees or the plenary sessions. “We urge MPs of the current Parliament to include this legislative initiative in their agenda and adopt it as soon as possible,” states a joint statement by eight media NGOs, including the Independent Journalism Center and the Association of Independent Press, which were involved in drafting the main recommendations of the draft law.
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Recently the Moldovan media has been reporting on a possible initiative of Socialist MPs to repeal or review the “Anti-Propaganda Law,” which prohibits broadcasting certain categories of television programs from the Russian Federation. Adrian Lebedinschi, the Chair of Parliamentary Committee for Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sport and Mass-Media commented on this subject. The Socialist MP underlined that there is no such draft law at this time, but he did not deny that a law could be developed, especially if it was supported by the parliamentary majority. At the same time, he said that implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Code would be reviewed early next year, which could lead to several amendments to the Code. MPs have released contrasting statements on this topic. While ACUM Bloc representatives say they will not support the repeal of this law, PDM MPs - who originally initiated the law” – have so far refused to comment. The “Anti-Propaganda Law” came into force in February 2018. The law was not ratified by President Dodon, but by the then-Speaker of Parliament, Andrian Candu.
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On Wednesday, December 11, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the dismissal of Valeriu Renita, Head of the Moldovan branch of the ‘MIR’ Interstate Company, and proposed his replacement - Stanislav Vijga, Head of Accent TV, affiliated with the Party of Socialists. The Executive Director of the Electronic Press Association, Ion Bunduchi, criticized the Government decisions as a “harmful practice.” According to Bunduchi, an individual should be appointed to this position via a public contest in order to promote “certain truths about the Republic of Moldova rather than be the mouthpiece of the Government.” According to its official website – www.mirtv.ru – the Interstate Television and Radio Broadcasting Company “MIR” was created in 1992 according to an agreement by CIS heads of state, in order to cover political, economic and humanitarian cooperation, create a common information space, and facilitate the international exchange of information. |
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From January 2020, the readers of newspapers ‘Jurnal de Chisinau’ and ‘SP Balti’ will no longer be able to access these newspapers in a printed format. The founders of both publications decided to cancel printed circulation due to the fact it is no longer profitable. Moving forward, the newspapers will only be issued in an online format. Founding director of ‘Jurnal de Chisinau,’ Val Butnaru, explained that he stopped the publication because it was no longer profitable and that he believes the future belongs to online media. Founder and director of ‘SP,’ Veaceslav Perunov, who is also the Chairperson of the Association of Independent Press (AIP), stated that the print version of the publication is not sustainable, and that his journalists hope to make a profit by monetizing the newspaper’s website. Perunov admits that many readers will no longer have access to information, but explained that he does not want to volunteer endlessly with no prospect of making a profit. Note that the newspaper TIMPUL gave up printing on May 31, 2019, and the newspaper ‘Adevarul Moldova’ closed in February 2016.
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Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo advocates for prosecution bodies to be open in communication with the media and civil society. He spoke about this in an interview before the Superior Council of Prosecutors (SCP) when applying for the position. Stoianoglo advocated for prosecution bodies to be open and disclose necessary information, especially in case of publically-resonant court cases. In his opinion, Moldovan society must be informed about the activity of the Prosecutor’s Office through the media.
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After the scandal at Moldpres regarding the reorganization of the institution and reducing staff by 30% attracted the attention of President Igor Dodon and several MPs, hearings on the topic were held in the Parliamentary Committee for Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sport and Mass-Media. Andrei Volentir, Executive Director of the Public Institution ‘Moldpres’ State News Agency, informed MPs that the new structure of the institution underwent further review. As a result, in addition to the 47 positions previously planned, six new positions will be added (i.e. two photojournalists, three translators and one editor). Committee member, MP Maria Ciobanu (from the ACUM bloc), reproached the ‘Moldpres’ Director for hiring certain individuals to promote the interests of those in power despite knowing that major staff cuts were to take place. Volentir rejected the allegations and said that those individuals were hired long before the restructuring. Photojournalist Mihai Vengher told reporters that he was informally informed that he would not be dismissed as of January 1, but has yet to receive official confirmation documents.
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At the first press conference since the start of his probation period on December 3, 2019, former Prime Minister Vlad Filat spoke to journalists for over 1 ½ hours, covering topics including which media sources he used to stay informed during his detention period. The former Prime Minister said that he only had access to TV channels controlled by former leader of the Democrats, Vlad Plahotniuc – Prime, Publika, Canal 2, Canal 3, and CTC. He added that, since his detention, the prisons began to make more TV channels available to prisoners, allowing them access to alternative sources of information.
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On Monday, December 9, the Broadcasting Council fined the television broadcaster Jurnal TV MDL 10,000 in response to a citizen complaint that the TV channel broadcasted a show containing licentious language. At the same meeting, BC members rejected two complaints against Publika TV and rejected, by majority vote, possible fines against Publika TV and NTV Moldova for violations committed during the recent election campaign. During examination of the monitoring report on television broadcasters during the election campaign period, BC members Lidia Viziru and Tatiana Buraga requested fines for NTV Moldova and Publika TV, which committed the highest number of violations. However, other members of the Council, including the Chair Dragos Vicol, rejected their requests on the basis that the violations were considered too minor to merit sanctions.
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The training ‘Reporter and cameraman – how to make a good team in the field,’ was organized by IJC on December 7-8, 2019. 18 cameramen and journalists received training from Andrei Captarenco of Radio Free Europe Romania and Catalin Balan of the BA DA Media Production House in Romania on how to create a video ‘story’ in a team. Trainers explained how reporters and cameramen can work together in various scenarios to shoot important details, including when a tripod is not available. Andrei Captarenco demonstrated what the backpack of a cameraman or a ‘universal journalist’ (who works alone) should contain. The experts recommended that journalists make full use of visual metaphors as an important method of making a quality media product. The training was organized by the Independent Journalism Center, as a partner of the ‘Media Enabling Democracy, Inclusion and Accountability in Moldova’ (MEDIA-M) project, funded by USAID and UKAid, and implemented by Internews.
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According to the conclusions of an IJC report on monitoring public statements of men and women candidates on the topic of gender, the gender perspective was not a priority for election candidates of either gender. Gender issues were also not prioritized by the media, which organized election debates during the election campaign for the parliamentary elections of October 20, 2019 in constituencies No 17, 33, 38 and 50. The report includes the results of monitoring for election debates hosted by six media outlets, the personal/public Facebook pages of seven election candidates, and a case study of constituency No 17 containing a comparative analysis of the speeches of five male candidates. The authors of the report recommend that candidates and media outlets take into account current issues relating to gender. These issues should be included in all candidates’ programs, and particularly those of women candidates, who face gender discrimination in private, public and political life. This report was produced by the Independent Journalism Center with the support of the East Europe Foundation, from the resources provided by Sweden, and with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and UKAID.
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Information about individuals and/or legal entities with ownership of Domen.md remains inaccessible to the general public, despite the fact that the company MoldData stated in September that the data would become public “in the near future.” Journalist Victoria Dodon addresses this issue in Media Azi along with guest experts and journalists. The guest speakers expressed the belief that the failure to publish this information constitutes a violation of a number of universal rights.
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The year of 2019 was very challenging for journalists in the Republic of Moldova. Three governments changed and they all had different attitudes towards the media. How did journalists see the events? Has the change of the Government resulted in better conditions for the guild? These are some of the questions addressed at Media Azi show by journalists of the year 2019, awarded at the Annual Press Club Gala.
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