Declaration of media NGOs: We condemn any attack on the journalists’ right to do their job honestly

Media organizations are expressing their concern about intensification of aggression against journalists at public rallies, where they are present to do their job and carry out their duty of informing citizens.

Thus, on Sunday, November 29, two more teams of journalists were assaulted during the protests at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to Today.md, a cameraman of the Today.md online television was hit with a fist in the head and kicked by a protester of the DA Platform, while journalists of Publika TV were abused verbally by the citizens that disagree with this television’s editorial policy. The videos posted by Today.md clearly show how protesters were violent with the cameraman and how several persons verbally attacked journalists.

Minister of Internal Affairs Oleg Balan said that the police took notice of this fact and that the persons who assaulted journalists had been identified. We are asking the ministry to promptly investigate this case and to apply the sanctions provided by law to the persons attempting on journalists’ right and freedom to seek information at public events. We are also asking the Ministry of Internal Affairs to develop efficient measures to prevent such cases from occurring in the future.

In addition, we are asking media outlets to detach themselves from their political preferences and to correctly and neutrally cover citizens’ protests and other events that are taking place in the country; to abandon manipulation and disinformation so as not to attract people’s contempt and to maintain journalism within adequate limits of professional ethics.

Independent Journalism Center
Association of Independent Press
Committee for Press Freedom
Association of Electronic Press of Moldova
“Acces-Info” Center
Center of Journalistic Investigations
Association of Independent TV Journalists
Young Journalist Center of Moldova