In a recent television interview, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said the government would do everything possible to preserve peace. Unfortunately for the Moldovan people, these measures have resulted in serious cases of media censorship and democratic backsliding. Using emergency powers introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Commission for Exceptional Situations (CES) was granted unprecedented and uncontrolled power to censor media in Moldova. This has resulted in the unexplained banning of 13 TV channels and over 50 websites and online portals, with an additional 7 TV channels and 2 radio stations expected to follow. These undemocratic actions have rightly raised concerns among media NGOs around the world and should serve as a wake-up call to EU officials currently involved in accession negotiations with Moldova. Greater efforts must be made to protect and educate the Moldovan public against disinformation, without violating freedom of expression.
It is undeniable that Moldova faces a threat of disinformation from Russia. Various reports of cyberattacks and illegal financing must be taken seriously – but if Moldova wants to join the EU, it must learn to combat these threats while preserving its freedoms. Moldova must be reminded that it is not the only one facing Russian disinformation campaigns.
Finland for example, a country that shares similar fears about Russian military threats and disinformation, has implemented anti-fake news initiatives, partnering with experts to implement a critical thinking curriculum in schools to train children to spot fake news. Moldova’s neighbor Romania has also introduced a specialized online platform designed to empower and educate its citizens in identifying and combating disinformation. As a country with a common culture and language now assimilated into the EU, Romania should serve as a shining example to Moldova in how to effectively combat fake news without trampling on press freedom . If Moldova chooses to combat Russian disinformation by censoring the media, it will ultimately fail. Rather, the key to combating fake news lies in promoting greater transparency within the media and, above all, in education and awareness.
It is ironic that the actions of the CES have effectively led the government to monopolize the media sector, a practice that pro-European parties in Moldova and European institutions have consistently criticized when observed in autocratic regimes like Russia. Unsurprisingly, the situation in Moldova has already gone beyond a simple media ban, with more than 120 documented cases of threats and direct attacks against journalists and media personnel between 2020 and 2022. Additionally, the Moldovan advertising sector is also dominated by groups with close ties to influential government figures, harming independent media , resulting in a global media landscape of cronyism and fear.
The government’s attack on Moldova’s free media landscape is troubling in itself, but particularly when viewed as a broader crackdown on civil society. The CES’s decision to ban all Chance party candidates from participating in last November’s local elections constituted a clear and illegal violation of electoral rights and has since been overturned by the Supreme Court. The Council of Europe and the OSCE critical the decision, urging Moldova to reevaluate the broad powers exercised by the CES. Banning the participation of opposition parties in free and democratic elections will silence significant sections of Moldovan society already dissatisfied with the government, depriving them of the opportunity to express their voices and opinions. This repression could ultimately destabilize Moldova’s social and political framework, potentially provoking unrest among the opposition and minority groups and jeopardizing the stability and cohesion of the nation.
Ultimately, Moldova must resist the temptation to fight fire with fire. The ability to criticize a government and participate in fair political competition is fundamental to democracy, while restricting these freedoms will likely have harmful long-term consequences. Instead, we need to take action and invest more to raise awareness among the Moldovan public about the dangers of disinformation. It is also essential for Moldova’s future stability that the EU does not appear to tolerate this behavior. In an already fragmented state, if the EU appears to openly side with the liberals, unity will be even more difficult to achieve.
The Commission for Exceptional Situations has exercised excessive power for too long, and with Moldova’s elections approaching in the fall, the legitimacy of Sandu’s government depends on an open, free and fair democratic process.
The author is not aligned with any political movement inside or outside Moldova and is running a campaign, with his recently announced NGO, to raise awareness of the corruption that is endemic in Moldovan business. He outlined some of these views in an interview with Forbesas well as opinion articles in European Union observer And EU journalist.
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