In a recent television interview, Moldova’s President Maia Sandu stated that her government will do everything it can to maintain peace. Unfortunately for the Moldovan people, these measures have resulted in serious media censorship and democratic setbacks. The Committee on Emergency Situations (CES), introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was given unprecedented and unlimited powers to censor media in Moldova. As a result, 13 television stations and over 50 websites and online portals have been banned without cause, with seven more television stations and two radio stations set to follow. These anti-democratic actions have understandably raised concerns among media NGOs around the world and should serve as a warning to EU officials currently engaged in accession negotiations with Moldova. Further efforts are needed to protect and educate the Moldovan public against disinformation, without infringing on freedom of speech.
There is no denying that Moldova faces a threat of disinformation from Russia. Various reports of cyber attacks and illicit financing should be taken seriously, but if Moldova is to join the EU, it must learn to combat these threats while preserving its freedoms. Moldova must remember that it is not alone in facing Russian disinformation campaigns.
For example, Finland, which shares similar concerns about Russian military and disinformation threats, has implemented an anti-fake news initiative and partnered with experts to implement a school-wide critical thinking curriculum, training children how to spot fake news. Moldova’s neighbor, Romania, has similarly introduced a special online platform to empower and educate its citizens to spot and counter fake news. As a country with a common culture and language, and now assimilated into the EU, Romania should set an example for Moldova in how to effectively counter fake news without trampling on press freedom. If Moldova chooses to censor the media to combat Russian disinformation, it will ultimately fail. The key to combating fake news instead lies in increased transparency within the media, and most importantly, education and awareness.
It is ironic that the actions of the CES have led to a de facto government monopoly of the media sector, a practice that Moldova's pro-EU parties and EU institutions have consistently criticized as being seen in authoritarian regimes such as Russia. Naturally, the situation in Moldova goes beyond a simple media ban, with more than 120 documented cases of threats and direct attacks against journalists and media workers between 2020 and 2022. Moreover, Moldova's advertising sector is also dominated by groups with close ties to influential government officials, undermining independent media and making the media as a whole ruled by nepotism and fear.
The government’s attack on Moldova’s free media environment is problematic in itself, but especially so when viewed as part of a broader crackdown on civil society. The CES’s decision to ban all Chance Party candidates from participating in last November’s local elections was a clear and illegal violation of the right to vote and was subsequently annulled by the Supreme Court. Both the Council of Europe and the OSCE have openly criticized the ruling and called on Moldova to reassess the broad powers exercised by the CES. Barring opposition parties from participating in free and democratic elections silences a significant portion of Moldovan society already disaffected by the government, denying them the opportunity to express their voices and opinions. This repression could ultimately destabilize Moldova’s social and political framework, stoking unrest among opposition and minority groups, and endangering the stability and cohesion of the country.
Ultimately, Moldova must resist the temptation to fight fire with fire. The ability to criticize the government and participate in fair political competition is a cornerstone of democracy, and restricting these freedoms is likely to have long-term negative effects. Instead, further measures and investments are needed to educate Moldovans about the dangers of disinformation. It is also crucial for Moldova's future stability that the EU is not seen to condone this behavior. In an already divided country, unification will become even more difficult if the EU is seen to be blatantly siding with the liberals.
The Emergency Committee has exercised excessive powers for too long, and as Moldova prepares for elections this autumn, the legitimacy of Sandu’s government depends on an open, free and fair democratic process.
The author is not involved in any political movement in or outside of Moldova, and is campaigning with a recently announced NGO to raise awareness of endemic corruption in the Moldovan landscape. The author has expressed some of these views in an interview with Forbes and in opinion pieces in EU Observer and EU Reporter.
