PM accuses Moldova of restricting media freedom

Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, has accused Moldova of undermining media freedom and targeting Georgian broadcasters.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, Kobakhidze claimed that media freedom in Moldova had “long been trampled underfoot” and alleged that only two television channels effectively remained operational in the country.

“In reality, only two state television channels are functioning in Moldova,” he said. “This reflects the overall situation, although nobody criticises Moldova for it.”

The PM argued that, under such circumstances, it was unsurprising that Moldovan authorities had moved against what he described as “free Georgian media”.

“They restricted free media in Moldova, and now they are attacking free media in Georgia. This is an entirely logical chain of events,” Kobakhidze said.

Moldovan authorities denied accreditation to three Georgian Government-lining broadcasters - Imedi TV, Rustavi 2 and POSTV - for coverage of a Council of Europe ministerial meeting in Chișinău.