Political

EU ambassador condemns attacks on independent media in Moldova

The European Union Ambassador to Chișinău, Janis Mazeiks, strongly condemned the violent attacks and online defamation campaigns aimed at undermining independent press and civil society organizations in the Republic of Moldova.

The European diplomat highlighted a troubling trend of stigmatizing journalists and activists by speculating about external funding in order to undermine their credibility and essential role in society.

"Acts of intimidation, threats, defamation, and the spreading of false information against journalists and civil society organizations are punishable by law and must be investigated and sanctioned without delay," Mazeiks reiterated.

In the ambassador's view, "freedom of expression and the unrestricted activity of journalists are essential components of a healthy democracy."

Additionally, the official emphasized that the EU will continue to support independent media, civil society organizations, combat disinformation, and promote investigative journalism, "to ensure that Moldovan citizens have access to accurate and trustworthy information."

After the Trump administration announced the suspension of all U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) projects globally, some politicians in Chișinău – who had previously expressed gratitude for USAID’s support to the Republic of Moldova – began questioning the management of the agency’s funds.

Former President Igor Dodon called for an audit of external funding, accusing USAID of having supported the electoral campaigns of Maia Sandu and PAS. However, during his tenure, Dodon had praised the agency's support for economic development and civil society.

Ion Chicu, the leader of the Party for the Development and Strengthening of Moldova, took a contradictory stance, initially posting a harsh message on Facebook in which he claimed that USAID "funds criminals," only to later release a video message thanking the American people for the support provided through the same agency. During his term, USAID supported the launch of significant digital systems for transportation and the business environment, and Chicu acknowledged the agency's considerable contribution.

U.S. President Donald Trump also spoke during his congressional address about various programs, claiming they revealed the "appalling waste" of federal government funds, naming several countries, including the Republic of Moldova. According to Trump, these government funds were used for "wasteful programs."

"It is important to note that only a small portion of USAID funds allocated to the Republic of Moldova was designated for independent media projects. One of the most important projects in the media sector is Media-M, implemented by Internews, which supports the development of an independent and professional press in our country and contributes to strengthening journalists’ skills in multiple fields, where USAID was a co-funder."

Last week, the United States canceled a 32 million dollar grant for the Internews organization, which had been implementing projects to support independent media, including in the Republic of Moldova. This decision was announced by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, on the X platform. Authorities in Chișinău have yet to comment on the decision.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

Eliza Mihalache

Eliza Mihalache

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