28 January 2010
Railway of Moldova forced to ensure access to information

Downtown Court of Justice from Chisinau municipality obliged the State Enterprise „Railway of Moldova” (CFM) to furnish information on the construction of Cahul-Giurgiuleşti railroad sector to the Association of Independent Press (API).

In July 2009, API addressed Moldova Railway General Director, Miron Găgăuz, with the request to provide data on the investments made by CFM in the construction of Cahul-Giurgiuleşti railroad sector, on companies contracted by CFM for such works and other related information.

CFM refused to furnish the requested information motivating „CFM is not an information provider”, and the Law on the access to information affects only public officials, who take decisions and are responsible for providing information.

API disputed CFM’s refusal in court, explaining the respective enterprise is a state one providing public services, and the requested information referred namely to the expenditure of public money. Thus, the Law on access to information has repercussions upon the State Enterprise „Railway of Moldova” (CFM).

On January 27 2010, Downtown Court of Justice from Chisinau municipality decided that, through its refusal to furnish the solicited data, CFM violated API’s access to information and obliged CFM to meet API’s request for information. The court decision can be disputed with an appeal.

The legal assistance during the trial was ensured by independent Lawyers’ Bureau „Victor Panţîru”.