Gagauzia again refused to submit to Chisinau
Gagauzia (autonomy within Moldova) refused to comply the decision of the authorities in Chisinau to stop broadcasting six Russian-language TV channels.
This is stated in a joint statement of the Presidium of the People's Assembly and the Executive Committee of Gagauzia, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“We believe that the ruling PAS party and head of state Maia Sandu bear political responsibility for this decision. The authorities are increasingly sliding towards authoritarian methods of government, forgetting that they came to power in a democratic way and under European slogans. Residents of the country are deprived of the right to choose and are imposed exclusively one-sided information, clearing the information field for TV channels loyal to the authorities,” the statement says.
Earlier, the bashkan (head) of Gagauzia, Irina Vlah, condemned the decision of the authorities in Chisinau.
“Why won’t the opposition media go on air? Why can't we choose what we watch? The party in power questions our ability to distinguish between white and black, truth and fiction, information and disinformation. This means that the voice of the opposition and dissent will no longer be heard on the air. Unfortunately, today in Moldova, under the guise of democracy, Maia Sandu has established an authoritarian regime. The press is the last enemy that a democratic government must fight. Did we really choose such a government?” Vlah said.
She called on international institutions, the organization “Reporters Without Borders” and human rights activists to respond to the scandalous decision of Chisinau.
The licenses of six Moldovan TV channels, including Primul în Moldova, Accent TV, RTR-Moldova and NTV Moldova, broadcasting Russian programs, were taken away by the Moldova Emergency Commission on December 17.
This is not the first demarche from Gagauzia. On May 9, the People's Assembly of the Autonomy refused to implement the ban on St. George ribbons imposed by Chisinau, and in June it disobeyed the order to hold a gay pride parade.
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