New persecution of Russian TV channels announced in Moldova
The PAS (Action and Solidarity) party, which has a majority in the Moldovan parliament, is developing a bill to ban advertising on Russian television channels rebroadcast in Moldova.
The speaker of parliament and leader of PAS, Igor Grossu, spoke about this on a private television channel, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“My colleagues from the relevant commission are working on this. We are obliged to protect the local producer, we have our own talents, and the small advertising market that exists in Moldova must be given to those who produce their content,” Grosu said.
On February 12, 2018, a law came into force in Moldova, according to which the broadcast of information, analytical, news and military programs of television channels belonging to countries that allegedly have not ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television is prohibited.
Russian TV channels fell under this restriction. The current President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has repeatedly stated that Moldova must continue to “fight Russian propaganda.”
Former President Igor Dodon repeatedly promised to return Russian programs, but decided to push it through parliament only after his defeat in the elections at the end of December 2020. Then a bill was adopted to amend the Code of Audiovisual Services. As a result, Russian television programs, including news ones, were able to return to the media space of the republic.
Moldova Announces New Crackdown on Russian TV Channels