Six media nongovernmental organizations issued a statement saying they regret the actions to hamper access to information and the restrictions imposed on journalists by the presidential administration. The NGOs demand to ensure nondiscriminatory access for representatives of the mass media to the events organized by the presidential office and to information of public interest that should be furnished by the institutions in accordance with the law, IPN reports.

The NGOs remind that on August 29, 2017, photo-reporter Constantin Grigorita was denied access to the press briefing given by President Igor Dodon without explanations. They also remind that a month ago, the same photo-reporter was not allowed to take part in the President’s meeting with journalists staged at the presidential villa in Condrita even if this met all the conditions imposed by the presidential administration.

Requested by the Association of Independent Press (API) to give explanations about the last case, the presidential office provided an evasive answer, suggesting that the restriction was imposed on the photo-reporter because of his behavior that the presidential administration considers immoral and not in accordance with the professional ethics.

The API said it filed a lawsuit concerning the hampering of access to information. “To our regret, the presidential administration has shown to be a closed institution that is not receptive to the requests for information, while a number of journalists signal difficulties in the communication with the representatives of this public institution,” says the statement.

The NGOs call on the presidential administration of Moldova and, personally, on President Igor Dodon to review the strategy for communication and international with the mass media, to ensure transparency in the work of the presidential administration and to exclude the anti-democratic practices to select and accredit representatives of the press according to loyalty criteria.

The statement was signed by the Association of Independent Press, Independent Journalism Center, Journalistic Investigations Center, “Acces-Info” Center, Association of Independent Tele-Journalists and the Electronic Press Association.