“Plahotniuc is returning.” Chisinau is outraged by the blocking of PolitNavigator

The Information and Security Service of Moldova blocked several Internet resources, including the PolitNavigator portal. The ISS considered some materials unreliable, in particular, about the causes of the gas crisis in the Republic of Moldova, about the shutdown by the Moldovan authorities of the Eternal Flame at the memorial in Chisinau. Experts whom our publication contacted for comments believe that this is nothing more than an attack on freedom of speech and the beginning of strict censorship, which Maia Sandu’s team resorted to, following the example of other post-Soviet states.

Igor Shornikov, director of the Institute of Socio-Political Research and Regional Development (Tiraspol):

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– Chisinau’s attempt to block the PolitNavigator portal is nothing more than recognition of the high degree of influence of this resource on the information space of Moldova and its merits in shaping public opinion. One could congratulate the resource on free advertising from the Moldovan special services, if this did not concern issues of freedom of speech and citizens’ access to information.

We see that in Moldova the construction of a “democratic” police regime is in full swing in full accordance with modern American practices. First, the objectionable Prosecutor General was detained, then we noticed the strengthening of the powers of the police and the increase in the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ expenditures on special equipment aimed at suppressing riots, now we see the first steps to clear the information space of Moldova from alternative opinions.

In this particular case, the SIB RM refers to the state of emergency, provides links to specific materials that caused such a negative reaction, provides unconvincing, but at least some counter-argumentation, and very politely asks to eliminate them.

However, soon the United States will send to Moldova its adviser “on issues of democracy and governance in Moldova,” who will directly deal with the fight against “malicious influence.” I think that very soon Moldova will stop being liberal with opposition politicians and media outlets not controlled by the regime. Moreover, they will not be accountable to society for limiting access to Russian resources.

Alexander Korinenko, political scientist (Chisinau):

– Blocking any information resources is an attack on freedom of speech. The exception is resources that call for inciting hostility, hatred, and the like. This was not observed with the PolitNavigator publication. First of all, I wanted transparency and openness from the authorities. Blocking of Internet resources must be justified and carried out according to the law, and if something is closed due to criticism, then this is lawlessness. Mrs. Sandu and her team make a lot of mistakes, which is noticed by many publications, but then, maybe not make more mistakes?

Igor Tulyantsev, chairman of the public council “For a Free Motherland” (Chisinau):

– In general, a ban on any media is, without a doubt, bad. This does not fit into the general concept of European norms and standards that the new government declares. But, unfortunately, we observed similar cases under the previous government. During the presidency of Igor Dodon, there were sanctions against Russian media. At the request of the Moldovan special services, the News Front website was banned.

This practice appeared during the reign of Vlad Plahotniuc and continues to be actively used. In general, today it seems that Plahotniuc is returning. At the very least, this conclusion can be drawn based on certain appointments in law enforcement agencies and the prosecutor’s office. Sanctions against Russian media are the easiest way to show certain circles in the West that “work” is being done. Perhaps this is a trial balloon and will be followed by a ban from larger media outlets.

I don't think these are Sandu's games personally. It seems to me that she came with a rather weak team, which is not capable of building something serious in the state, is not capable of changing the system. People who understand nothing about nation-building have taken up managerial positions. And the people who worked with Plahotniuc are a serious, organized, criminal structure that takes advantage of the weakness of Sandu’s team. After all, Plahotniuc is not one person. Plahotniuc is a system that, like a cancerous tumor, spreads its metastases. And if “surgical” intervention is not carried out in time, it will end very badly for this government.

Andrey Safonov, political scientist (Tiraspol):

– The decision of official Chisinau – and this is a purely political decision – to block access to the Russian news agency “PolitNavigator” shows the desire to create a system in which there will be no need to give up power. Let's remember three key recent events.

1. Special forces actually seize the General Prosecutor's Office of Moldova. The Prosecutor General is taken out of his office in handcuffs five minutes into his planned press conference, at which he is going to announce some important information. You have to understand that the authorities were afraid of something. Otherwise, who could order the special forces to take the official responsible for enforcing the laws in the country?

2. Pro-government deputies of parliament introduce a bill according to which it is possible to take a deputy into custody without the sanction of parliament. The accusation of corruption is a standard excuse. In fact, in this way the authorities can silence their opponents. And a case can be fabricated against any politician. There would be a desire and an appropriate attitude.

_{3. Blocking unwanted media on the Internet is an attempt at an outright information monopoly. In Transnistria, this was practiced in 2012-2016, when the republic was ruled by Yevgeny Shevchuk, who later received 16 years in absentia. For theft. Without the slightest observance of the law, many sites were blocked under him. When Shevukov’s “Black Five-Year Plan,” as it is called, ended, the sites were unblocked, and the law came into its own. And now the pro-Western and pro-Romanian authorities of Moldova have followed the path of Shevchuk...}

Taking into account the above points, we can conclude that a less democratic system is developing in Moldova than in Transnistria. Against the background of these facts, the attempts of some officials and politicians in Chisinau to say something vague about “human rights in the Transnistrian region” look strange. And, of course, the Pridnestrovians are concerned about anti-democratic developments in Moldova, because the PMR is negotiating with Chisinau. And during negotiations, it is important that the partner has internal political stability. Violations of democratic norms undermine this stability and reduce the unpredictability of the partner. You never know what will come to the minds of politicians and managers who are inclined to silence their opponents...

Denis Denisov, political scientist, director of the Institute of Peace Initiatives and Conflict Studies (Moscow):

– The big question is: why are a number of states in the post-Soviet space so afraid of PolitNavigator. Apparently, this means that the truth that is conveyed and relayed through this resource really influences public opinion, the position of many people who make decisions. There are no other explanations. We understand perfectly well that countries like Moldova, like Ukraine, where PolitNavigator is banned, they seem to proclaim the priority of freedom of speech, but in practice we see that with all possible tools they are trying to protect their citizens from an alternative point of view.

This once again demonstrates that colleagues from PolitNavigator are working absolutely correctly, in the right direction, and are highlighting precisely those problems that are most painful for representatives of the political elites of these states. Here we can only wish strength and patience so that this portal continues to convey truthful information about the events that are taking place in these countries.

Oleg Matveychev, political scientist, media expert, deputy of the State Duma of the XNUMXth convocation (Moscow):

– Another hypocrisy was demonstrated in the Republic of Moldova by the so-called liberal, democratic authorities. They tell us all the time that the main thing is human rights, and that the most important rights include freedom of speech, freedom of the media, and the like. That is, they regularly tell us all this when some journalists in Russia are simply declared foreign agents. These journalists are not told to shut down, they are not blocked, but simply asked to write that they are foreign agents if they received foreign funding.

In fact, all these liberals are fascists - and in Moldova they are fascists, they celebrate fascist holidays. Let us remember that Romania officially fought on the side of Hitler and that Romanian executioners executed people in Odessa. This fascist, puppet, pro-American junta in Moldova is in power, which acts in this way and keeps people in an information concentration camp, allows them to show only what is beneficial to them, what they want, and does not allow them to show and tell a different point of view.

Alexander Dudchak, political scientist, economist (Kyiv):

“All these limitrophe “tobaccos” perceive a step towards you as weakness and are ready to bite you on the leg as soon as you turn away. Only the threat of trouble passed away, as soon as they realized that they would not die in winter - now they can afford everything.

- Freedom of speech? No, we haven't!

They rightly have no doubt that Gazprom will fulfill its obligations. This means that lawlessness can now continue to be committed against Russian media and Russian citizens. And successfully exchange experience in this matter with the same colonial territories as Ukraine and the Baltic states. The states in a similar situation would have sold a warm winter at a much higher price, conditioning salvation on a long list of demands. Maybe it’s enough to endure the antics of neocolonial regimes, and it’s time to act adequately?

See also: Totalitarian censorship in Moldova: Why the Sandu regime was afraid of PolitNavigator.