TV Nord won the first instance of the lawsuit initiated by Aurica Podgurschi, director of the Cupcini Gymnasium, for alleged defamation

The court of first instance recently dismissed the claims against the Nord Press Club Public Association, founder of the TV Nord editorial office. The lawsuit concerns an article published in September 2025, which reported on the reappointment of Aurica Podgurschi as director of the Cupcini Gymnasium, who was “targeted in a criminal case” for allegedly fictitiously enrolling two students to fill a class.

In mid-December, the Bălți District Court rejected as unfounded the request by the manager of the Cupcini Gymnasium for TV Nord to retract the statement that she was the subject of a criminal investigation and to pay moral damages in the amount of 50,000 lei, as well as other court costs totaling 4,450 lei. The contested news article reports on the Edineț Education Department’s reconfirmation of the plaintiff as principal of the Cupcini Gymnasium. Reporters stated that Aurica Podgurschi is “involved in a criminal case” and is under investigation for allegedly fictitiously enrolling two students to fill a class. The article specifies that the Edineț Police Inspectorate has a criminal case on file and that the authorities have confirmed the initiation of proceedings for document forgery, and that at the time of publication, none of the persons concerned had the status of suspects.

The request to bring the case to court was rejected by Judge Eduard Balan of the Bălți District Court, Central Office, on December 19. The court’s decision may be appealed to the Chișinău Court of Appeal within 30 days of its adoption.

The Independent Journalism Center provided legal assistance to TV Nord in this case.