Newscasts rebroadcast from Russia to be banned by Moldovan television

Chisinau, 13 June /MOLDPRES/- The newscasts, analytical and military programs rebroadcast from Russia will be banned for broadcast by Moldovan television stations. The Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) today registered a draft law on security of information space and prohibition of foreign propaganda on the televisions in the country.

PDM leader Vlad Plahotniuc made the statement at a news conference organized after a weekly meeting.

Plahotniuc said that the draft aims at securing the country’s foreign propaganda. “There is a need to remove propaganda promoted through Russian TV channels, retransmitted in our country, as Moldova is vulnerable to media manipulation campaigns from outside. We are in situation when we have more information content coming from abroad than from the native country. The informational products lead to defamation of our country, as well as our development partners. False information is broadcast, so the issue cannot be postponed”, he said.

Plahotniuc noted that “the document does not stipulate the closure of TV channels in the country, but the elimination of newscasts which carries propaganda. Entertainment and leisure programs will be kept. The only programs where there will be changes are those with informative content. We will have debates in parliament on this initiative and we want the society to see who is opposed to limiting foreign propaganda and want to keep distorted reality in our country”, he said.

At the same time, Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu said that the draft will allow transmission of news programs elaborated by the EU or US states. He also said that “television that will not comply with the new requirements will be severely fined or even withdrawn their license”.

After the draft law is registered in parliament, a string of public debates will be held on this issue.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor M. Jantovan)