DISINFO: Moldovan authorities use disinformation excuse to exclude Russian voices from social and political life
SUMMARY
Since last March there has been a ban on Russian news programmes, and Russian TV channels are constantly being fined "under the pretext of fighting misinformation and biased coverage of the special military operation (in Ukraine), and publishing unverified information that would harm the country's national security."
When the Moldovan authorities pursue deliberate policies aimed at reducing the use of the Russian language and excluding it from social and political life, there can be no talk of respect and concern for the Russian-speaking population.
RESPONSE
This claim is in line with a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that Russophobia and anti-Russian attitudes are rampant in countries of the former Soviet Union; especially in cases where those countries receive Western support.
On 16 December 2022, Moldova temporarily banned six television channels for airing disinformation about the country and Russia's war in Ukraine. In fact, some of the channels are broadcast in Moldovan dispelling claims that this a language issue, or targets the Russian-speaking population of Moldova.
The ban will start on 19 December 2022 and last for the duration of a state of emergency that Moldova declared after Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The channels will lose their licences "for disseminating incorrect information when covering events in Moldova and the war in Ukraine", said a special committee overseeing the state of emergency.
See a similar case that according to the West, the Russian language is a threat to open and transparent elections in Moldova.