Fast Facts Language: Romanian Established: 1950 Distribution: Radio (AM, FM, UKV, CBL, SW, satellite); television; Internet Coverage:  90 minutes Monday-Friday, 30 minutes weekends, 30 minutes weekly to Transdniester in Russian (15 minutes) and Romanian (15 minutes) Locations: Prague, Chisinau Staff: 4 in Prague, 6 in Chisinau, 25 stringers

Media Environment

• Freedom House Freedom of the Press Index, 2012: Partly Free (115th/197)
• Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, 2012: 53rd/179
• Despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of the press, defamation and insult of the state remain criminal offenses, investigative reporting is risky and self-censorship is still common among journalists..

Highlights

• Radio Europa Libera remains the most popular international radio broadcaster in Moldova. About 87 percent of listeners crediting its programs with increasing their understanding of current events.
• Radio Europa Libera was one of the few media outlets in Moldova to follow the case of Ernest Vardanean, an RFE/RL contributor who was arrested by the separatist region of Transdniester for allegedly spying for Moldova in 2010. Radio Europa Libera’s reporting helped achieve Vardanean’s release from prison in May 2011.
• Radio Europa Libera’s website has vastly increased its audience and visibility. Its reports are now reprinted by most news outlets in Moldova.

Population
3.56 million (World Bank estimate, 2011)

Most Common Languages:
Romanian (Moldovan), Russian, Ukranian, Gagauz

Press Freedom Index (Freedom House):
Not Free, ranked 116 out of 197 (2012)

Press Freedom Index (RSF):
53 out of 179 (2011)

Corruption Index (Transparency Int.):
112 out of 183 (2011)

Global Peace Index (IES):
66 out of 158 (2012)
 

Human Rights Watch:

Moldova Report (2012)

Amnesty International:
Moldova Report (2012)