14 February 2010
Request for CSJ Chairman’s dismissal due to his expression „journalists – raged dogs”

Twelve well-known journalists and press managers from R. Moldova*** request the resignation of Ion Muruianu from his position as Chairman of the High Court of Justice on the grounds that the latter “committed a filthy attack, in a Stalinist language and style, to the address of press and journalists”, Monitor Media Agency reports.

The letter in which the twelve journalists request Muruianu’s resignation was submitted to the Speaker, Mihai Ghimpu, this Sunday. The signatories call upon the Parliament to examine Muruianu’s dismissal at the next sitting.

During the General Judges Assembly, held on Saturday in Chisinau, Muruianu openly declared in his speech that journalists, who are by definition society’s watchdogs, „sometimes turn into raged dogs that become dangerous for the society through the lies they spread”. Mass media’s labeling was made by the Magistrate in the context of discussions on the margin of lawsuits lost by Moldova at the European Court of Human Rights.

The signatories of the letter addressed to Mr. Ghimpu are firmly convinced that Muruianu’s statements „cannot be tolerated for any reasons”.

Also during the General Judges Assembly, the Interim President and Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Mihai Ghimpu, uttered a speech, criticizing vehemently the judges’ activity, including for their blame for placing R.Moldova among the states with the greatest number of appeals to ECHR, whereas the country must incur penalties worth millions of Euros.

*** The letter was signed by Valeriu Saharneanu, Chairman of Moldova Journalists Union, awarded with „Ordinul Republicii”; Constantin Tănase, Director of national daily TIMPUL, awarded with „Ordinul Republicii”; Dumitru Ciubasenco, editor-in-chief of „Panorama” newspaper, awarded with „Ordinul Republicii”; Val Butnaru, General Director „Jurnal Trust Media”, awarded with „Ordinul Republicii”; Anatolie Golea, General Director „Analitic Media grup” - TV7, awarded with „Ordinul Republicii”; Aneta Grosu, editor-in-chief of investigation weekly newspaper „Ziarul de Garda”; Valentina Ursu, reporter at “Radio Free Europe” Chisinau Office, awarded with „Ordinul Republicii”; Constantin Marin, Chairman of IPNA „Teleradio-Moldova”; Alexandru Dorogan, General Director of „Radio Moldova”; Dumitru Ciorici, Media Manager of news portal Unimedia.md; Nicolae Dabija, Director of weekly „Literatura si Arta” and Veaceslav Tabuleac, Director of „Vocea Basarabiei” radio station.

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