The Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) penalized five TV channels for retransmitting Russian news and analytical programs classed as propagandist and manipulating. These channels are: Prime, TV 7, RTR Moldova, Ren Moldova, and Rossia 24. These were monitored by the Council in the period between March 9 and 15, IPN reports.

The monitoring results showed the authors of the programs denigrated the Ukrainian authorities, blaming them for the situation created in the neighboring state. As to the subjects about Moldova covered by the Russians, current governor of Gagauzia Irina Vlah, who in March was a candidate running for this post, was favored in them.

Last year, after a similar monitoring, five TV channels were fined the highest amount possible, but some of these went to court and won the cases. This time, Prime, RTR Moldova and Ren Moldova were fined 5,400 lei, which is the highest fine. The minimum fine of 1,800 lei was imposed on TV 7 for the reason that this channel decided not to broadcast news and analytical programs of the Russian channel it retransmits starting with May 1.

The activity of Rossia 24, which was banned from broadcasting during sixth months since January 1, was suspended again. BCC chairman Dinu Ciocan said the situation in some of the cases didn’t improve or even worsened, making reference to representatives of Rossia 24, who do not admit that they broke the legislation by broadcasting propagandist and manipulating programs.

BCC member Cristina Mitu said that without the support of broadcasters, they will not manage to ensure the security of Moldova’s information area and called on these to stop retransmitting Russian news and analytical programs.