Transparency International-Moldova expresses its profound concern and warns the Moldovan authorities, the anticorruption and law enforcement agencies and also the country’s development partners about the unacceptable character of the intimidation and pressure against journalists who discover and signal cases of unjust enrichment and undeclared property, says a press release that is quoated by IPN. The press release was issued in connection with the latest statements made by the Investigative Journalism Center of Moldova.
“The case signaled by the Investigative Journalism Center of Moldova is unordinary and points to a clear attack on the freedom of expression and the democratic instruments that are suffocated by obscure interests and goals. For over three years, the investigative journalists provided tens of explanations and all kinds of justifications to state institutions that, instead of ensuring an appropriate balance between private life and the freedom of expression, cynically act to the detriment of public interests,” runs the press release of Transparency International-Moldova.
“The tendentious use of the legislation on the protection of personal data against the right to information and the freedom of expression in cases of public interest represents an abuse, while the intimidation of the press for cases of corruption and unjust enrichment revealed in journalistic investigations should be punished in accordance with Article 1801 of the Penal Code,” said the press release of Transparency International-Moldova.
“The exerting of pressure on journalists through the agency of criminal procedures is a serious attack on the freedom of the press and a dangerous precedent for the democracy of a state.”
In another press release, the Investigative Journalism Center expresses its concern over the decision of a judge to require prosecutors to initiate criminal cases against investigative journalists for accessing and collecting personal data for a journalistic investigation regarding the undeclared property of a prosecutor and his ex-wife.
The journalistic investigation revealed that prosecutor Igor Popa, head of the Ciocana office of the Chisinau Prosecutor's Office, former Deputy General Prosecutor, did not indicate the buildings he uses in the property statement. He filed for divorce with his wife, after which the respective properties were registered under her name. The prosecutor is now investigated in two criminal cases started based on the Center’s investigation published by the Investigative Journalism Center in 2020.
This is the first ever criminal case launched against journalists in the Republic of Moldova, who are fulfilling their professional duties, and sets a dangerous precedent and seriously undermines media and expression freedoms. The Investigative Journalism Center will defend the image and journalists of its team by all legal ways, says the press release.
