The European Union and the USA have always been for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, but also for a large part of the world, as models of democracy, in which human rights and rule of law principles are respected. Among the keystones underlying democracy and the rule of law, promoted by the EU and the US worldwide, are freedom of expression and media independence. Without respecting the right to free expression and without media independence, there can be no rule of law, no democracy as a form of government. On the other hand, censorship is the indispensable element of any authoritarian or totalitarian society.

The Republic of Moldova obtained the status of a candidate for joining the European Union, meeting all the Copenhagen criteria, including the establishment of institutions that guarantee democracy, rule of law, human rights, etc.

Taking into account all of the above, the editorial board of Prime and Publika TV have a few questions for the European Union and the United States of America:

1. Are the classic principles of democracy and the rule of law still valid, including independent media and freedom of expression?

2. In which democratic countries, where the rule of law is respected, are media institutions, including TV stations, closed by political decisions of the government, as happened in the Republic of Moldova, where the broadcast licenses of 12 TV channels were suspended?

3. What is the position of the EU and the US in relation to a government that uses manipulative facts and mixing of information to make arbitrary decisions that violate a constitutional and universal right and openly attack principles that underpin the rule of law and a democratic form of government?

4. Have the EU and the US obtained additional explanations from the authorities in Chisinau regarding the real reason, which was the basis of a political decision to close the TV stations Prime and Publika TV, given that public arguments about "propaganda, misinformation, influencing the local general elections" etc. did not find any factual evidence?

5. Since when do the EU and the US support governments that officially introduce media censorship?

6. Will the Moldovan practice of shutting down TV channels and news websites without any court decision be applied in the member states of the European Union and in the USA?

7. Where is the line between fighting propaganda and misinformation, which we believe must exist, and imposing state censorship?

8. For the last two years, since PAS has been in power in the Republic of Moldova, according to public opinion polls, the number of citizens who support European integration has decreased by about 10%. Do you think that this trend is one caused by propaganda or by the activity of the leadership in Chisinau, which resorts to anti-democratic actions under the banner of the EU flag?

9. How would justice in the US and EU countries have reacted if the governments of these countries had closed down local TV stations?

10. How would American and European civil society and public opinion have reacted if the governments of these countries had taken the decision to close down a number of TV stations?

Sincerely,

Publika TV and Prime editorial board