# Media Freedom in Moldova: Fragility, Undue Restrictions and Self-Censorship
Moldova’s diverse and multi-lingual media face multiple challenges, including restrictions based on vague national legislation, penalties that are unwarranted and fail to follow due process, harassment, as well as direct reporting restrictions in Russian-occupied Transnistria, Amnesty International said in a new report published today.
The report, *Media freedom in Moldova: Fragility, undue restrictions and self-censorship in the face of polarized politics* documents the risks to media due to measures taken by the Moldovan authorities, including the introduction and abuse of emergency powers, particularly sence Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It shows how the authorities have resorted to the suspension of broadcasting licenses without transparency or judicial oversight to counter the spread of Russia-originated disinformation and misinformation and alleged Russian attempts to illegally sway moldova’s politics, underlined by the Russian war of aggression in neighbouring Ukraine.
“The Moldovan authorities argue that such measures are a necessary response to the country’s security needs. Yet, this response to external threats fails to comply with the requirements of legality, necessity and proportionality. It puts independent journalism and freedom of expression itself at risk,” said Veaceslav Tofan, Executive Director of Amnesty International Moldova.
“In government-controlled Moldova, these emergency measures alongside a lack of protection against harassment and vague legislation, have led to self-censorship even among some pro-European media. Elsewhere, the situation is plainly dire. The authorities must not put fundamental freedoms at risk.”moldova’s authorities must protect media freedom and develop media regulations in consultation with media and civil society, not seek to control the country’s information space through controversial legislation and extrajudicial punitive measures.”
Moldova’s authorities must protect media freedom and develop media regulations in consultation with media and civil society, not seek to control the country’s information space through controversial legislation and extrajudicial punitive measures
Veaceslav Tofan, Executive Director of Amnesty international Moldova
## Introduction of new controversial legislation and sanctions for media
Following the full-scale Russian invasion of ukraine, Moldova’s parliament imposed a new state of emergency which granted the Commission for Exceptional Situations (CES), a non-judicial authority, the powers to introduce new media regulations and impose sanctions on media for breaking them. Before the state of emergency expired, the CES suspended the broadcasting licenses of 12 TV channels, and blocked access to dozens of websites, in response to alleged media-related threats from Russia.
The CES’s non-judicial powers expired simultaneously occurring as the state of emergency, on 30 December 2023, only to be transferred to the Council for the Promotion of Investment Projects of National Importance (CPIPNI), under swiftly passed legislation which, absurdly, purported to ensure “integrity and functionality of the electricity market.” The CPIPNI has de-li