Media Freedom in Focus: Examining press freedom in Moldova after tense election

Latest MFRR podcast episode looks at risks faced by independent media in Moldova after elections on September 28. On September 28, Moldovans voted in closely watched parliamentary elections, amidst widespread accusations of Russian interference.

08.10.2025

The results were a clear victory for Moldova’s largest pro-European party, PAS. The news came as a relief to many of Moldova’s independent media, who were worried about a possible takeover by pro-Russian forces.

These worries were relayed to IPI during a press freedom mission conducted in June. Conclusions from the mission were published in a recent IPI report titled Moldova: fears for press freedom in case of pro-Russian victory.

While the worst case scenario was avoided, at least for now, media freedom in the country remains fragile, marked by stark regional differences, and in need of further democratic consolidation.

In this episode of Media Freedom in Focus, we discuss the risks that independent media will continue to face in Moldova, together with Anastasia Nani, the Deputy Director of the Centre for Independent Journalism, a leading Moldovan press freedom organisation.

Listen to the Podcast on Podbean

Guest: Anastasia Nani, Deputy Director of the Centre for Independent Journalism, Moldova.

Producer and Host: Karol Łuczka, Eastern Europe Advocacy Lead at the International Press Institute (IPI).

Editor: Kasperi Kainulainen, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Fellow at the International Press Institute (IPI).

This podcast series is part of the MFRR in Focus podcast project by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.