28 May 2012
DECLARATION on restricting access to public interest information

Mass Media NGOs express their confusion in regards to the decision of the Chairman of the parliamentary Standing Committee for Legal Issues, Appointments and Immunities, Victor Popa, to impede journalists' access to the Committee's meeting, held on 24 May, by declaring the session a closed-door meeting.

It is noteworthy, that according to Art. 24 of the Parliamentary Regulation, the Committee meetings are public and that a closed-door meetings may be hold if public debate on certain matters may harm the citizens' protection measures or the national security.

Given that, the members of the Committee examined the Bill on ensuring equality and the Bill on reforming of the Center for Combating Corruption and Economic Crimes, we find that the meeting agenda included issues of public interest, thus the decision of MP Victor Popa is unjustified.

We express our concern that this case might establish a negative precedent and we call on the authorities to abstain from similar practices, which affect journalists' activity and are in contradiction with the European principles and values on decisional transparency.

Independent Journalism Center
The Association of Independent Press
Center for Investigative Journalism
Broadcasters Association (APEL)
Press Freedom Committee
Acces-Info Center
Journalist Union of Moldova
Young Journalist Center of Moldova