CHISINAU, March 22 The Information and Security Service of Moldova (ISS) ordered, under the pretext of «fighting disinformation», to block the websites of the Sputnik agency.
«By order of the director of the SIS No. 18 of March 22, the list of sources with online content that disseminate false information in the field affecting national security under the state of emergency, 41/2022, was supplemented by the portals: sputniknews.com; md.sputniknews.com; ro. sputniknews.com; sputniknews.ru; md.sputniknews.ru,» according to the department's website.
A corresponding order was sent to network providers and electronic communication services to immediately block access of users from Moldova to these sites.
Some Russian media in Moldova have already been banned under the pretext of combating disinformation. Since February 26, 2022, the SIS has blocked the Sputnik Moldova website, and since March 7, the broadcasting of the agency's station. The Russian Embassy in Chisinau condemned the decision of the authorities of the republic and called the accusations against the agency biased and politicized.
Also, Moldova suspended the license of the opposition and leading Russian-language TV channels Primul in Moldova, RTR Moldova, Accent TV, NTV Moldova, TV6, Orhei TV, who allegedly unfairly cover information about events in the country and in Ukraine. The authorities explained this decision by the risk of disinformation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow considers Chisinau's decision as an act of political censorship. The Foreign Ministry added that such actions are an outrage on the principle of media pluralism and a flagrant violation of the right to freedom of access to information. Moscow also qualifies this as «a cynical infringement of the rights of national minorities».