Moldovan President Dodon appeals to Constitutional Court concerning bill to ban news from Russia
Moldovan President Igor Dodon has asked the Constitutional Court to verify the legality of the amendments recently adopted by the Moldovan parliament to the code on television and radio broadcasting, which restrict the broadcasting of Russian news and information analysis transmissions from Russia. The president wrote about this on his Facebook page.
“In my view, it goes against the principles of democracy and violates basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, and specifically: the right to freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of opinion, etc.” Dodon commented.
He also emphasized that, contrary to constitutional norms, this law will introduce censorship, which he considers unacceptable in the legal state.
The law in question is the law to fight “foreign propaganda”, which the Moldovan parliament accepted again at the end of December 2017, after it was rejected by the president. The document places a ban on the broadcast of information, information analysis, military and political TV and radio programs produced in countries which have not accepted the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. Russia is one such country. Violation of restrictions will result in a fine of €2000-4000 and the revocation of the broadcaster’s license.
Igor Dodon said earlier that he does not intend to sign a single anti-Russian law, and that he is prepared to put it to a referendum.