Andrei Vedutenko, the director of the news portal Gagauzinfo.md, shared his views on the development of media freedom in Moldova and spoke about the peculiarities of journalism in the Gagauzian autonomy. He believes that there have been no real changes for the better. Vedutenko noted the selective attitude of the authorities to various categories of press representatives and selective provisions for information. Vedutenko believes that significant events do not occur in Gagauzia.

“Gagauzia is a small region and there are less events than in Chisinau, the pool for news makers is very limited here,” Andrei said.

In his opinion, the personal perspective has great effect on the content of articles while a journalist covers the events.

“A journalist thinks about prospects of future communication with someone of whom he could have written an unpleasant truth, and so on. I can also mention some local narrow-mindedness. Residents of Vulcanesti, for example, are not interested in the events in Comrat and vice versa,” Vedutenko said.

Additionally, Andrei believes that the content of local media is strongly affected by the linguistic preferences of news consumers. “Gagauzia is a Russian-speaking region. Romanian-speaking content is not acceptable here,” the journalist added.

The director of the portal, covering mostly events in Gagauzia, believes that all the political forces of the region constantly infringe the rights of the press. “For instance, Bashkan Formuzal deprives us of the right to cover the work meetings of the Executive Committee (“the government”) of Gagauzia, this is allowed only to loyal media. The Mayor of Comrat, who is the leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova in the region, holds meetings of the municipal council in secret so that our film crews cannot get there. The National Assembly wanted to introduce licensing of internet media and accreditation. By the way, our portal was the only media that applied for accreditation. Ultimately, the members of parliament abandoned this idea,” Vedutenko said.

The journalist also has a negative opinion about media freedom. “Formally, one has more freedom than before, but actually there are no changes for the better,” Vedutenko said.

The journalist added that authorities only publish unimportant information on open access websites. “Reaching an official is practically impossible. Indeed, if he rejects journalists he receives no negative consequences. The authorities are acting according to the principle “the green light for loyal press, provisions of the law – for all the rest,” the journalist concluded.

EaP Media Freedom Watch