Officials from Comrat Say Russian TV Stations Will Broadcast Without Restrictions in Gagauzia. BCC: We will appeal to law enforcement

Irina Vlah, Bashkan (Head) of the Gagauz autonomy, believes that the law passed by the Parliament of Moldova on December 7 on ensuring information security by restricting some foreign programs violates the citizens’ right to information. The bashkan said that in Gagauzia Russian television stations (which fall under this law) will air their full content. On the other hand, the Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) stated that it will inform all the competent authorities if Gagauzia does not comply with the Broadcasting Code.

Irina Vlah was indignant about the adoption by the Parliament in Chisinau of the law restricting the broadcasting of informative, analytical, military, and political programs that were produced not in the EU, the USA, Canada, or in other countries that have ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television.

Vlah believes that the adoption of this law will lead to the worsening of relations with the Russian Federation and that authorities, under the guise of information danger, are actually fighting against the reputation of Russia in Moldova.

In addition, the chairman of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia Vladimir Kissa believes that this law should be reviewed in order to take into account the interests of the residents of the Gagauz autonomy. The People’s Assembly, according to Kissa, is of the opinion that Russian TV stations should broadcast without restrictions.

Asked by Media-azi.md to comment on the statements of officials from Gagauzia, the BCC chairman Dragos Vicol said: “As for the situation in Gagauzia, we will report it to the Moldovan law enforcement authorities in order to make it clear that the Gagauz autonomy is an inalienable part of the Republic of Moldova, including in radio and television. We will notify the General Prosecutor’s Office, the State Chancellery, the Territorial Office in Comrat, so that the law is observed,” Vicol said.

Please note that earlier, on December 7, the Parliament adopted in two readings the draft law on limiting broadcasting from the countries that have not ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. Socialist and communist MPs opposed the adoption of this law, and the Moldovan President Igor Dodon said he would not promulgate this law.