SEEMO PROTEST: MOLDOVA

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), wishes to express its concern at the recent harassment of journalists working for the investigative newspaper Ziarul de Garda.

According to information before SEEMO, journalists from the weekly investigative newspaper have suffered from continuous harassment by phone and e-mail since the publication of an article on 4 September 2008. The article discussed Moldovan students’ misgivings about the fact that their personal data was given to the Security and Information Service (SIS) by the Ministry of Education. The threats against the journalists included anonymous phone calls and entries on the newspaper’s internet forum warning Ziarul de Garda’s staff that they should stop discussing the SIS in their articles.

SEEMO is deeply concerned about this intimidation of journalists and calls on Your Excellencies to initiate an immediate investigation into this case. We further urge Your Excellencies to do everything in your power to create a safe media environment and to prevent incidents like this one from occurring in the future.

Oliver Vujovic
SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 6 October 2008

Zinaida Greceanii
Prime Minister
Government of the Republic of Moldova
1 Piata Marii Adunari Nationale
Casa Guvernului
Chisinau
Moldova
Fax: +373 22 242 696

Valentin Mejinschi
Minister of Internal Affairs
Government of the Republic of Moldova
1 Piata Marii Adunari Nationale
Casa Guvernului
Chisinau
Moldova
Fax: +373 22 242 696