02:53A rally against the closure of Russian-language TV channels was held in front of the parliament in Chisinau on Thursday.
Footage shows protesters chanting ;Down with censorship!', 'Down with dictatorship!' and 'Freedom!'. Those gathered also held placards with slogans such as 'If You Keep Silent - You Make Propaganda!', 'Hands off the Press!' and 'Closing Channels - A Step Toward Tyranny and Poverty'.
One participant claimed that the decision by the authorities to close Russian-language channels was 'completely illegal’.
"If it was legal, they would have acted according to the law. And not so sneakily on a Friday night with the commission's decision, instead of all the existing government agencies," she shared.
Another protester, speaking at the rally, stated that "those who are not with us are for censorship in the Republic of Moldova".
The rally was accompanied by representatives of law enforcement agencies. There was no official information about any detentions.
On December 16, the Moldovan Emergency Situations Commission (ERC) decided to ban the broadcasting of six Russian-language TV channels: First in Moldova, RTR, Accent TV, NTV Moldova, TV6, and Orhei TV. The restrictions came into force on December 19.
According to the ERC, the decision was taken in order to "protect the national information sphere and to prevent the risk of misinformation and attempts to manipulate public opinion".
The next day, Natalia Gavrilitsa, prime minister of the republic, claimed that the aforementioned Russian-language media 'seriously and repeatedly' violated the country's code 'on audiovisual media services,' reflecting events in the country and Ukraine in a 'biased and manipulative manner'.
"In a situation in which there is not only an energy war against our country, but also an information war, our responsibility and duty is to protect the citizens and the country," Gavrilita stressed.
In turn, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Moldovan politicians of 'cynical infringement of the rights of national minorities'.
"We consider this ban as an unprecedented act of political censorship, as an outrage on the principle of media pluralism and a gross violation of the right to freedom," the diplomat said.
A series of mass anti-government rallies began in the country in May over soaring energy and food prices, as well as falling living standards and record inflation.
According to media reports, rallies which close roads or restrict access to public buildings are now banned on weekdays, while weekend protests are limited to four hours.
On October 14, Chairman of the opposition Shor party, Valeriy Klimenko, said that he considered the decision by the Emergency Situations Commission (ESC) to ban protests blocking traffic to be illegal and "a gross violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova".
Moldova: 'Hands off the press!' Rally against closure of Russian-language TV channels held in Chisinau
A rally against the closure of Russian-language TV channels was held in front of the parliament in Chisinau on Thursday.
Footage shows protesters chanting ;Down with censorship!', 'Down with dictatorship!' and 'Freedom!'. Those gathered also held placards with slogans such as 'If You Keep Silent - You Make Propaganda!', 'Hands off the Press!' and 'Closing Channels - A Step Toward Tyranny and Poverty'.
One participant claimed that the decision by the authorities to close Russian-language channels was 'completely illegal’.
"If it was legal, they would have acted according to the law. And not so sneakily on a Friday night with the commission's decision, instead of all the existing government agencies," she shared.
Another protester, speaking at the rally, stated that "those who are not with us are for censorship in the Republic of Moldova".
The rally was accompanied by representatives of law enforcement agencies. There was no official information about any detentions.
On December 16, the Moldovan Emergency Situations Commission (ERC) decided to ban the broadcasting of six Russian-language TV channels: First in Moldova, RTR, Accent TV, NTV Moldova, TV6, and Orhei TV. The restrictions came into force on December 19.
According to the ERC, the decision was taken in order to "protect the national information sphere and to prevent the risk of misinformation and attempts to manipulate public opinion".
The next day, Natalia Gavrilitsa, prime minister of the republic, claimed that the aforementioned Russian-language media 'seriously and repeatedly' violated the country's code 'on audiovisual media services,' reflecting events in the country and Ukraine in a 'biased and manipulative manner'.
"In a situation in which there is not only an energy war against our country, but also an information war, our responsibility and duty is to protect the citizens and the country," Gavrilita stressed.
In turn, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Moldovan politicians of 'cynical infringement of the rights of national minorities'.
"We consider this ban as an unprecedented act of political censorship, as an outrage on the principle of media pluralism and a gross violation of the right to freedom," the diplomat said.
A series of mass anti-government rallies began in the country in May over soaring energy and food prices, as well as falling living standards and record inflation.
According to media reports, rallies which close roads or restrict access to public buildings are now banned on weekdays, while weekend protests are limited to four hours.
On October 14, Chairman of the opposition Shor party, Valeriy Klimenko, said that he considered the decision by the Emergency Situations Commission (ESC) to ban protests blocking traffic to be illegal and "a gross violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova".
A rally against the closure of Russian-language TV channels was held in front of the parliament in Chisinau on Thursday.
Footage shows protesters chanting ;Down with censorship!', 'Down with dictatorship!' and 'Freedom!'. Those gathered also held placards with slogans such as 'If You Keep Silent - You Make Propaganda!', 'Hands off the Press!' and 'Closing Channels - A Step Toward Tyranny and Poverty'.
One participant claimed that the decision by the authorities to close Russian-language channels was 'completely illegal’.
"If it was legal, they would have acted according to the law. And not so sneakily on a Friday night with the commission's decision, instead of all the existing government agencies," she shared.
Another protester, speaking at the rally, stated that "those who are not with us are for censorship in the Republic of Moldova".
The rally was accompanied by representatives of law enforcement agencies. There was no official information about any detentions.
On December 16, the Moldovan Emergency Situations Commission (ERC) decided to ban the broadcasting of six Russian-language TV channels: First in Moldova, RTR, Accent TV, NTV Moldova, TV6, and Orhei TV. The restrictions came into force on December 19.
According to the ERC, the decision was taken in order to "protect the national information sphere and to prevent the risk of misinformation and attempts to manipulate public opinion".
The next day, Natalia Gavrilitsa, prime minister of the republic, claimed that the aforementioned Russian-language media 'seriously and repeatedly' violated the country's code 'on audiovisual media services,' reflecting events in the country and Ukraine in a 'biased and manipulative manner'.
"In a situation in which there is not only an energy war against our country, but also an information war, our responsibility and duty is to protect the citizens and the country," Gavrilita stressed.
In turn, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Moldovan politicians of 'cynical infringement of the rights of national minorities'.
"We consider this ban as an unprecedented act of political censorship, as an outrage on the principle of media pluralism and a gross violation of the right to freedom," the diplomat said.
A series of mass anti-government rallies began in the country in May over soaring energy and food prices, as well as falling living standards and record inflation.
According to media reports, rallies which close roads or restrict access to public buildings are now banned on weekdays, while weekend protests are limited to four hours.
On October 14, Chairman of the opposition Shor party, Valeriy Klimenko, said that he considered the decision by the Emergency Situations Commission (ESC) to ban protests blocking traffic to be illegal and "a gross violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova".