The Moldovan authorities on Friday suspended the licenses of six television stations accused of misinforming on the national situation and also on the development of the war in neighboring Ukraine.
This was decided by the Emergency Situations Commission of the Moldovan government in the framework of the state of emergency that has been in force in the European nation since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and which has been extended on successive occasions.
As the commission has clarified in a statement, the decision to suspend the licenses of these television channels was taken to «protect the national information space and prevent the risk of disinformation through the dissemination of false information or attempts to manipulate public opinion».
The six television stations that have had their licenses suspended and will cease broadcasting on Moldovan territory are: First in Moldova, RTR Moldova, Accent TV, NRV-Moldova, TV6 and Orhei TV. The Russian news agency TASS has confirmed that some of these channels broadcast Russian programs as well as others critical of the Moldovan government.
Later, Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita justified the decision on the grounds that the six channels «have seriously and repeatedly violated» the country’s audiovisual media legislation by showing «biased and manipulative coverage of events» in Moldova and Ukraine.
«After almost 300 days of war in Ukraine, propaganda in Moldova was not restrained, indeed, it intensified,» denounced Gavrtilita, who alluded to an «information war» against his country. «We have a responsibility and even an obligation to protect our citizens and country,» he has said on his Facebook profile.
«Today’s decision is aimed at securing the information space in the country, eliminating manipulation and propaganda, corrupt and particularly dangerous elements, especially during the difficult period we are going through,» the Moldovan head of government concluded.
In addition to the suspension of the aforementioned channels, the Commission for Emergency Situations has announced other measures aimed at the energy sector. In addition to the security threat, the authorities also declared a state of emergency in connection with the energy situation.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
