For the first time, journalists and media organizations in the Republic of Moldova will benefit from a national framework dedicated to professional safety, which includes measures for prevention, protection, and response in cases of threats, intimidation, or attacks. These provisions are set forth in the Action Plan on journalist safety for 2026–2027, signed on Wednesday, April 29, by Minister of Culture Cristian Jardan, Minister of Internal Affairs Daniella Misail-Nichitin, Minister of Justice Vladislav Cojuhari, and Deputy Prosecutor General Sergiu Russu.
“Over the past decade, the safety of journalists has become a major concern in Europe and globally. Successive reports by organizations specializing in freedom of expression, as well as by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, confirm the deterioration of the security environment for the press, and given the role of the press in a democracy and the essential nature of freedom of expression for the exercise of other rights, this has necessitated coherent and verifiable measures,” the plan states.
The document is presented as the first of its kind in the Republic of Moldova and establishes a set of measures aimed at strengthening the protection of journalists and the media sector, contributing to guaranteeing press freedom and creating a safer environment for the practice of the profession. The plan was developed by the signatory authorities in cooperation with civil society, and some actions are to be implemented in partnership with international organizations, such as the Council of Europe and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The document is structured around three main objectives.
HARMONIZING LEGISLATION WITH EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
According to the document, the first objective aims to “ensure a legal framework aligned with the EU regulatory framework.” To this end, the authorities intend to align national legislation with European standards on media freedom and the protection of journalists, including by drafting a new media law harmonized with the European Regulation on freedom of the press, as well as by amending the Code on Audiovisual Media Services to fully transpose the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.
At the same time, the plan also focuses on combating abusive SLAPP lawsuits (strategic lawsuits against public participation). The document provides, among other things, for “the designation of a national focal point for monitoring and combating abusive lawsuits” and the systematic collection of data on such cases.
STRENGTHENING THE OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK AND COMBATING IMPUNITY
The second objective aims to strengthen the operational framework and prevent impunity in cases of attacks against journalists.
The document emphasizes the need for “prompt, independent, and effective investigations” and the development of the capabilities of law enforcement agencies.
To this end, the Plan also provides for the ongoing training of police officers, prosecutors, and judges in the areas of freedom of expression and the protection of journalists, as well as an assessment of the advisability of appointing prosecutors specialized in cases involving media activities. Furthermore, the authorities are to examine the possibility of providing free legal assistance to journalists in cases of assault, threats, or abusive SLAPP lawsuits.
At the same time, the Plan introduces concrete rapid-response mechanisms. It provides for the designation of contact points and the creation of a group of focal points—composed of representatives of the authorities and the Press Council—which will function as a “provisional early warning and rapid response mechanism.” This mechanism would facilitate the reporting of incidents and the coordination of interventions among institutions.
Furthermore, the document provides for the collection and periodic publication of data on crimes and offenses against journalists, as well as the monitoring of cases of intimidation or violence, including online, to assess the effectiveness of interventions and combat impunity.
STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE OF JOURNALISTS AND NEWSROOMS
The third objective of the Plan focuses on strengthening the self-protection capacity of journalists and media institutions. The document outlines measures to “increase the resilience of journalists and media institutions against legal, cyber, and psychological threats.”
Among the actions included are the development of protection guidelines, training in digital and legal security, as well as psychological support programs for journalists. Training sessions for media managers are also planned, focusing on crisis management and the development of internal safety protocols.
The plan further emphasizes the importance of cooperation between authorities and civil society, as well as the need to collect disaggregated data on attacks against journalists, including from the perspective of gender and vulnerable groups.
Media Azi previously reported that the state of press freedom in the Republic of Moldova has deteriorated in recent years, driven by the frequency, diversity, and normalization of forms of intimidation, harassment, and aggression.