Politics
Russia’s influence in Moldova through media overwhelming
Reading Time: 5 minutesExcerpt from the radio program “Moldovan Foreign Policy Debates” broadcasted on Radio Vocea Basarabiei. The Russian factor impact on the informational space of the Republic of Moldova
The Russian factor impact on the informational space of the Republic of Moldova
**Excerpt from the radio program “Moldovan Foreign Policy Debates” broadcasted on Radio Vocea Basarabiei, on August 30, and produced by the Foreign Policy Association (APE) in collaboration with Imedia News and Analysis Agency and with the assistance of the German Foundation Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). The broadcast is aired on Radio Vocea Basarabiei every Sunday.
Corneliu RUSNAC, journalist Imedia: How does Russian influences in the media, informational space manifest itself and what could be the consequences of this kind of influence for the national security of the Republic of Moldova? And what should the Republic of Moldova do in order to assure its media security, Mr. Cristal?
Oleg Cristal, Expert of the Association for Participatory Democracy (ADEPT): I have launched, some time ago, an idea which apparently is not very popular and I have even been attacked rather strongly. I think that the Ukraine did, it did well when the government prohibited the broadcast of Russian television channels on the territory of the Ukraine, and however, I also believe that they have exaggerated in the case of cable networks. In the Republic of Moldova we have four state frequencies, foe the moment they broadcast three television channels, out of which two are foreign. One is from the Russian Federation and the other one from Romania. Both countries have important interests in the Republic of Moldova, and if we want to keep our sovereignty, we should keep track of the informational security, because these days conventional wars go into history, nowadays there are first of all informational and economic wars. Thus, it remains to be decided, do we keep on the state frequencies two foreign channels or not. Besides these frequencies there are numerous channels broadcasted regionally, TV and radio channels or cable ones, well, through cable or satellite every citizen decides what television channels to watch. […]
Oazu Nantoi, Expert for the Institute of Public Policies (IPP): In this sense I recall my experience when I was in Israel a few years ago in a visit to some family friends, as usual, when [my host] was getting everything ready in the kitchen, I was left in front of the TV with more than two hundred channels out of which about fifty were Arab. This was in Israel, which has been in a state of war from its formation, if I am not mistaken in 1948, because I am the same age with Israel. Thus, this is one approach. We regret that citizens of the Republic of Moldova are being manipulated by foreign media. And indeed, here we had the war in Georgia in August 2008. In October 2008 IPP from Moldova produced a poll in which people were asked who was responsible for the conflict between Russia and Georgia. 20% of the respondents, I might be wrong, I cite from memory, thus, 20% declared that Russia was to blame, 32% declared that it was Georgia’s fault, about 10% declared it was the USA who was responsible, then came NATO and Abkhazia and I don’t know who else. Therefore, it is indeed the case, as Mr. Cristal just said, nowadays we are constantly without knowing it subjects of informational warfare. I remember how the CNN channel reflected the beginning of the operations in Yugoslavia in 1998 and the war in Georgia, how the websites were blocked and how difficult it was to find alternative sources of information. But I would like to mention another thing here, I am a taxpayer, I pay money to the budget of the Republic of Moldova and in return I am offered the junk called Public National Broadcasting Company “Teleradio Moldova”.
Well, we cannot close, prohibit the access of electromagnetic waves of the channels we do not like, someone does not like Romania, others do not like Russia, I could have some objections towards the Ukraine where I was born, but that is, we live in a world of competition including in the informational sphere. I have no illusions about the potential of the society, so that the Moldovan state could compete with the US in the economic area, but we must have a national public television channel which would offer an alternative to the Moldovan citizen: what happens in Transnistria, what happens in the relation between Comrat and Chisinau, what is going on in the relation between Chisinau and Bucharest, why there are so many unresolved problems during the last 20 years between two neighboring countries like the Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, etc. In such circumstances, I could consider that we have done our homework. We come with our position, with our view, with our interpretation of different events that touch upon our national interests. But, yes, there is a problem with the state in the process of its building as is the Ukraine, as is the Republic of Moldova, how should they position themselves in regards to the informational sources of the former metropolis, yes?, to make it more precise, that treat the CIS area by double standards, as a kind of unaccomplished states, with a degree of sovereignty determines by the Kremlin. This is the problem.
But it is the first part of the problem; I see that we should have here open and competitive mass media, and the citizen should have access to them, thing that we lack. And after that, we should have the moral right to think well, whom we restrict access to our informational market. Well, “a la guerre comme a la guerre” (at war like at war).
Radu Vrabie, Expert of the Foreign Policy Association (APE): I am not a specialist in mass media; still, I would say that we have a law stating that we should have 70% of local product, which makes however, instead of doing what Mr. Nantoi said, a local public television that would be an alternative source of information, if does in fact destroy other foreign television channels that we have, because these local programs implemented now and the re-transmitted ones, in fact I do not know, I don’t think they enjoy any popularity and nobody watches local products. Another aspect, besides what my colleagues have just mentioned, is the fact that we not only are under the influence of Russian mass media, we are in general within a Russian information space just like in many other aspects of daily life, entertainment, I do not know how else to call it. Cinemas, discos, well, night clubs, malls are places were Russian language is mostly spoken. And I believe that indeed the government of the Republic of Moldova could pay more attention to this issue in order to change a little bit the situation, because many times it is very hard to get to watch a movie in the mother tongue, the Romanian language. As for the television, coming back to TV, it is very good that there are many channels, but it is sad that certain foreign television channels have disappeared, which when present could have been compared. Now we do not have. And besides the fact that we need public television, local television in general, we need foreign televisions, western, in order to be able from the variety of information, to make certain conclusions.
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, pay an official visit to Brussels, between September 27-28, being invited by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Today, Prime Minister had a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The Moldovan PM thanked the senior European official for the support of the institution in strengthening democratic processes, reforming the judiciary and state institutions, economic recovery and job creation, as well as increasing citizens’ welfare. Natalia Gavrilita expressed her confidence that the current visit laid the foundations for boosting relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, so that, in the next period, it would be possible to advance high-level dialogues on security, justice and energy. Officials also exchanged views on priorities for the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in December.
“The EU is open to continue to support the Republic of Moldova and the ambitious reform agenda it proposes. Moldova is an important and priority partner for us,” said Charles Michel.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita also met with Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, expressing her gratitude for the support received through the OMNIBUS macro-financial assistance program. The two officials discussed the need to advance the recovery of money from bank fraud, to strengthen sustainable mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Moldova, and to standardize the customs and taxes as one of the main conditions for deepening cooperation with the EU in this field.
Additionally, Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and the Deep Free Trade Agreement, noting that the Government’s policies are aimed at developing an economic model aligned with the European economic model, focused on digitalization, energy efficiency and the green economy.
A common press release of the Moldovan Prime Minister with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, took place today, where the agenda of Moldova’s reforms and the main priorities to focus on in the coming months were presented: judiciary reform; fighting COVID-19 pandemic; promoting economic recovery and conditions for growth and job creation; strengthening state institutions and resilience of the country.
“I am here to relaunch the dialogue between my country and the European Union. Our partnership is strong, but I believe there is room for even deeper cooperation and stronger political, economic and sectoral ties. I am convinced that this partnership is the key to the prosperity of our country and I hope that we will continue to strengthen cooperation.”
The Moldovan delegation met Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Tomorrow, there are scheduled common meetings with Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Prime Minister will also attend a public event, along with Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Photo: gov.md
Politics
Promo-LEX about Maia Sandu’s UN speech: The president must insist on appointing a rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Transnistria
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to New York, USA, between September 21-22. There, she participates in the work of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a press release of the President’s Office, the official will deliver a speech at the tribune of the United Nations.
In this context, the Promo-LEX Association suggested the president to request the appointment of a special rapporteur in order to monitor the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. According to Promo-LEX, the responsibility for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region arises as a result of the Russian Federation’s military, economic and political control over the Tiraspol regime.
“We consider it imperative to insist on the observance of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation regarding the withdrawal of the armed forces and ammunition from the territory of the country,” the representatives of Promo-LEX stated. They consider the speech before the UN an opportunity “to demand the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Russian Federation with reference to this territory which is in its full control.”
“It is important to remember about the numerous cases of murder, torture, ill-treatment, forced enlistment in illegal military structures, the application of pseudo-justice in the Transnistrian region, all carried out under the tacit agreement of the Russian Federation. These findings stem from dozens of rulings and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in the region.”
The association representatives expressed their hope that the president of the country would give priority to issues related to the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region and would call on relevant international actors to contribute to guaranteeing fundamental human rights and freedoms throughout Moldova.
They asked Maia Sandu to insist on the observance of the obligation to evacuate the ammunition and the military units of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to publicly support the need for the Russian Federation to implement the ECtHR rulings on human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, and to request the appointment of an UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
**
The Promo-LEX Association concluded that 14 out of 25 actions planned within the National Action Plan for the years 2018–2022 concerning respecting human rights in Transnistria were not carried out by the responsible authorities.
The association expressed its concern and mentioned that there are a large number of delays in the planned results. “There is a lack of communication and coordination between the designated institutions, which do not yet have a common vision of interaction for the implementation of the plan.”
Promo-LEX requested the Government of the Republic of Moldova to re-assess the reported activities and to take urgent measures, “which would exclude superficial implementation of future activities and increase the level of accountability of the authorities.”
Photo: peacekeeping.un.org
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