The Center for Independent Journalism published the Press Release Index in Moldova 2020 covering the press situation. Moldova remains for the year 2020 at the same level as for the fifth consecutive year. Political instability, the economy, and the pandemic have had a direct impact on media’s activity.

The document appears for the fifth consecutive year and provides an analysis of the press as a whole, specifying the problems, but also the key developments. According to the study, last year, Moldova’s press registered an anti-record, the 14 evaluators giving it the lowest score so far.

The institution states that the media and journalists did not enjoy full security. Journalists also encountered threats made by politicians or civil servants, as well as limited access to information in the midst of the pandemic crisis.

The national legislation regulating the media activity was not supplemented with provisions necessary for the field, said the experts. The document also explains why the changes made to the Audiovisual Media Services Code at the end of 2020 are inappropriate, dangerous, and contrary to Community standards.

The experts stated that the political influence on media should be diminished by enlarging the independent press sector. Any abuse by politicians in relation to the media should be publicly reported. The journalistic community should strengthen its solidarity to achieve the common goal of removing the political interference in the activity of the press. Experts also demand that any act of threat or aggression against the media be denounced. The reaction of law enforcement to any such acts should be closely monitored and made public.