---
title: "Moldova moves to ban politically affiliated heads at Gagauz GRT"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/83146/moldova-moves-to-ban-politically-affiliated-heads-at-gagauz-grt
published: 2026-08-15T12:56:28Z
language: en
author: "Redacția  TRM"
section: "Regional"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Moldova moves to ban politically affiliated heads at Gagauz GRT

> Candidates applying for the directorship of Gagauzia’s public broadcaster, GRT, must have no recent political affiliation under proposed amendments to Moldova's Media Audiovisual Services Code.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/26fa8ad3-00e3-47c6-8813-1af5ce59822b.jpg)

Candidates applying for the directorship of Gagauzia’s public broadcaster, GRT, must have no recent political affiliation under proposed amendments to Moldova's Media Audiovisual Services Code.

Co-author of the amendments, MP Liliana Nicolăescu-Onofrei, told Radio Moldova Comrat that political engagement can be evaluated through a candidate's public conduct and active promotion of political factions. She emphasized that public broadcasters must guarantee absolute editorial freedom to journalists without political dictation.

**Language proficiency requirements**

The draft legislation mandates that candidates for the director position at GRT must demonstrate proficiency in Romanian. Nicolăescu-Onofrei noted that this aligns with labor laws requiring heads of public institutions to speak the state language.

Additionally, lawmakers are considering a supplementary requirement for candidates to speak the Gagauz language.

**Past political ties and regulatory fines**

The reform follows past controversies surrounding GRT's leadership and editorial impartiality. Former director Vasili Dermendji took office in 2023, the same year Evghenia Guțul was elected governor of the Gagauz autonomy with the backing of the now-banned Șor Party.

Application documents revealed that Dermendji had served since 2019 as chief legal counsel for "Pentru Orhei," an organization registered at the former headquarters of the Ilan Șor-led party. The Constitutional Court of Moldova declared the Șor Party unconstitutional on June 19, 2023.

GRT has faced repeated sanctions from the Audiovisual Council over the past two years for failing to meet accuracy and impartiality standards. On September 19, 2025, the regulator imposed a fine of €1,530 (approx. 30,000 MDL) on GRT after an August 27, 2025 broadcast aired false and manipulative statements by Ilan Șor during an Independence Day program.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**