Constitutional Court of Moldova recognizes the law on combating Russian propaganda as legitimate
On Monday, June 4, the Constitutional Court of Moldova recognized that the law “on combating Russian propaganda” is in fact consistent with the constitution of the country.
The Constitutional Court rejected Moldovan President Igor Dodon’s request. The decision of the court is final and entered into force immediately.
On December 7 of last year, the Parliament of Moldova adopted amendments to the “code of audiovisual media services,” which calls for a prohibition on rebroadcasting of informational, analytical, political and military TV programs from countries which did not ratify the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. Russia signed the document in 2006, but did not ratify it.
President Dodon refused to sign the document after the Parliament readopted it. Subsequently, the Constitutional Court suspended Dodon powers required for signing the bill, and the Chairman of Parliament, Andrian Candu, signed the bill as an acting President.
The law came into effect on February 12. During this time, two Moldavian TV Channels were fined for broadcasting Russian news and for broadcasting the address of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Currently, the coordinating council for television and radio is preparing to consider possible punishment for Channel RTR-Moldova, which broadcasted the Victory Day parade in Moscow.