Political

The Audiovisual Council presented its report to Parliament. Opposition demanded explanations for suspension of licence for six TV stations

The Audiovisual Council imposed 447 sanctions on media service providers and distributors over the past year for non-compliance with audiovisual legislation, according to the institution's report presented in Parliament today. According to the report, 235 fines totalling 2,340,000 lei and 212 warnings were issued. Parliamentary opposition demanded explanations for the suspension of licences for six TV stations

The Audiovisual Council paid particular attention last year to the media coverage of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the security crisis in the region, according to the report. The institution found that some TV stations failed to provide accurate information, violating the principles of good faith, impartiality, balance of opinions and separation of facts from opinions.

Several opposition MPs criticised the work of the CA, saying it favoured some media providers. Bloc of Communists and Socialists MEP Grigore Novac asked for reasons for the decisions to withdraw the licences of six TV stations.

"On December 16, 2022, the Exceptional Situations Commission suspended the licenses of the six stations. Since then, no more propaganda. Nobody is talking about it," the MP said.

In response, CA Chair Liliana Vitu said that fines and sanctions were applied, according to the CA regulation, to all media providers and distributors who broke the law.

"A proof that there are still problematic contents in the audiovisual space is the last meeting of the CA, in which we applied sanctions for violation of Article 13 to two stations, because that group acting with bad intentions is quite inventive in circumventing the provisions of the law", said the CA president.

Following the presentation of the report, the Committee on Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sport and the Media made a number of recommendations for the work of the AC, including strengthening institutional capacities and ensuring good cooperation with European regulators, international and national institutions and civil society.

According to the CA, at the end of 2022, 114 radio and television stations were operating in the Republic of Moldova.

Olga Stăvilă

Olga Stăvilă

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