Communist MP Threatens Journalist with Permanent Dismissal from Media Field

Communist MP Iurie Muntean threatened a journalist of Publika TV channel. He disapproved with the TV station’s interpretation of an incident involving him which occurred previously during a Parliament session, so he promised the journalist she would no longer work in the media. Experts believe that such actions of MPs should be punished.

Publika TV reporter Dumitrita Ciuvaga confirmed for Media Azi the information about the MP’s threat. Muntean told her the TV channel allegedly provided false information about an incident during which several MPs started pushing and intimidating each other during a plenary session. Publika claimed it was Muntean who started the fight. “I told him that it was not me who published the news. But he told me that he would make sure I would no longer work in the media,” Ciuvaga said.

In turn, MP Iurie Muntean explained his action by the fact that Publika TV allegedly published false information discrediting him. “I walked up to her to find out who had written the text,” the MP said, adding the journalist denied it was her. “What she does has nothing to do not only with journalism, but with basic human decency as well. I was the one trying to stop the conflict (…) I told her that she would nevertheless lose her work with such an attitude to the profession,” he added.

The MP also made hardh remarks about Publika TV in general, calling it a “media brothel” and asking Media Azi reporters ”Do you know who works in a media brothel? You know!”.

The general director of the Association of Independent Press (API) Petru Macovei claimed the journalist should file a lawsuit against the MP. He also cited an article from the Criminal Code stipulating punishment for impeding journalists’ activities. At the same time, Macovei noted the alarmingly growing trend of intimidating journalists in Moldova. “This proves that politicians (both from the opposition and those in power) want to be beyond criticism and try to control the media and are indignant at media for their own mistakes,” Macovei said.

The Broadcast Coordinating Council (BCC) also condemned Muntean's attempt to prevent journalists from doing their work by putting pressure on them or threatening them. BCC members highlighted that freedom of expression is linked to the public's right to receive information and it is an essential component of a country's democratic system.