Moldova: Russia Imposes Entry Ban on Moldovan Journalists Stela Untila and Lorena Bogza

Kremlin, once again, attempts to paint critical foreign journalists as enemies of Russia

Location: Moldova, Chisinau
Date: January 10, 2024

The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) and Women Press Freedom strongly denounces the Kremlin’s recent decision to impose an entry ban on Moldovan journalists Stela Untila and Lorena Bogza. This action is not only a direct attack on individual journalists but also a blatant attempt to undermine press freedom and censor critical media coverage. The shift in Moldova towards a more critical stance on the Kremlin and a growing support for European integration is a democratic expression of the will of its people. The Kremlin's response to ban journalists like Untila and Bogza is an attempt to intimidate and silence those who are merely fulfilling their role in a democratic society - to report truthfully and hold power to account. We stand in solidarity with Stela Untila, Lorena Bogza, and all journalists facing repression and censorship. We urge the international community to condemn these actions and to support journalists in their critical role of informing the public and holding the powerful accountable.

On January 10, 2024, the head of the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI) of Moldova announced that Russia had banned the entry of several government officials and journalists. The decision was justified by Russia as a response to the perceived persecution of Russian media and discrimination against Russian citizens in Moldova.

Among those banned are high-ranking officials, including the head of the cabinet of the President of Moldova, members of the Supreme Security Council, and journalists from prominent Moldovan publications, including Stela Untila and Lorena Bogza.

Media associations in Moldova expressed disapproval of the Russian authorities' decision to prohibit its journalists. Petru Macovei, the director of the Independent Press Association of Moldova (API), told BIRN he believes the ban indicates that Moscow is watching Moldova closely.

There has been a significant change in Moldovan politics and public opinion toward the Kremlin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Even among traditionally pro-Russian factions, approximately 40 percent of Moldovans now express the view that the attack on Ukraine was unjustified. This shift has presented challenges to Moldova’s pro-Russian political parties and is causing frustration in Moscow, as support for European integration grows in response to the conflict.

This ban on Moldovan journalists is not an isolated incident, as Russia has previously imposed bans on foreign press critical of its actions. In August 2023, the Kremlin added prominent British journalists Marianna Spring, Deborah Turness, and Emily Bell to its “blacklist,” claiming bias in their coverage of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has used laws and prohibitions to intimidate critical journalists at home and abroad. Domestically, the state has imprisoned and detained journalists for reporting on its assaults on civilians in Ukraine. In 2023, CFWIJ documented numerous violations perpetrated by the Kremlin against Russian journalists in exile who continue to report critically of the government. This cynical tactic of transnational repression, authoritarian state’s tactics of targeting its critics abroad, is meant to strike fear in dissidents and silence their reporting.  

The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom denounces the Kremlin’s ban on Stela Untila and Lorena Bogza. We believe it is yet another ploy by Moscow to assert censorship over critical media and undermine press freedom by claiming all those who criticize it are unreliable journalists and enemies of the country. Journalists play an important role in fostering transparency, accountability, and democracy, and any attempts to restrict their movements or silence their voices are a direct threat to these principles. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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