The Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) started the monitoring of TV channels Prime TV, TV7, RTR Moldova, Ren TV Moldova and Rossia 24, rebroadcasting Russian TV channels, for their compliance with audio-visual legislation of Moldova. The monitoring covers all the information and analytical programs, broadcast from Russia in the period from April 10^th to 24^th.

The regulator undertook this activity after having received a request on behalf of Ana Gutu, a MP from the Party of Liberal Reformers, addressed to the President of the BCC and calling for the cease of “aggressive propaganda of Russian TV channels”. She suggested the BCC to contact operators rebroadcasting Russian TV channels and radio stations in order to replace Russian newscasts and political debate programs with others – “for example, with European, national or regional newscasts, music programs, cognitive or entertainment programs”.

The Association of Independent Press (API) and the Independent Journalism Centre (CJI) expressed their opinion on Gutu’s initiative. “The Broadcasting Coordinating Council, as the guarantor of the public interest, is to monitor not only domestic, but also foreign television and radio programs, and to intervene if these programs violate the legislation of the Republic of Moldova on correct informing of the public”, the statement of media NGOs says.

Representatives of the OSCE in Moldova called on the BCC to refrain from blocking of TV channels. At the same time, Marian Pocaznoi, the Chair of the BCC, believes that the Council has limited ability of applying sanctions. He announced his intention to address the Parliament with a request to amend legislation regarding the system of sanctions.

The results of monitoring of Russian programs, rebroadcast in Moldova, will be presented to the civil society, sociologists and psychologists.

EaP Media Freedom Watch