Journalists in Moldova: Physical dangers and threats can take a psychological toll

Olga Stavilă, Correspondent, Radio Moldova

"In the 20 years I've been in the business, I've often found myself in uncomfortable situations, often during election rallies. Just recently, I reported on a protest organized by one of the Moldovan parties. I was pushed around many times. At some point the police intervened and I took cover. It was very difficult to report independently under those conditions."

Journalists in Moldova: Physical dangers and threats can take a psychological toll

Viorica Tataru, Reporter, TV 8

"I've been through a lot: physical and verbal attacks, online and offline threats. The coverage of the Ukraine war has been really intense. After covering a protest event, I just recently got a message: 'At some point you're going to get a bullet in your head.' I decided to speak about it publicly and there is also an open police investigation. No journalist should have to die for reporting."

Journalists in Moldova: Physical dangers and threats can take a psychological toll

Irina Tabaranu, Journalist, Zonadesecuritate.md

"During an interview, a person suddenly started walking past us over and over again, looking aggressively in our direction while playing around with some object in his hand. The interviewee really panicked and started shaking. We also grew anxious and finally had to end the interview. In this case, unfortunately, we couldn't use the material afterwards."

Journalists in Moldova: Physical dangers and threats can take a psychological toll

Andrei Captarenco, Journalist and cameraman, TV8

"I was in Ukraine in 2014 - shortly after Russia invaded Crimea. When we arrived on the peninsula, our train was suddenly stopped. Our team was then taken to an unknown location, which was full of Russian soldiers. We were separated and interrogated individually for hours. At some point, we were released and we quickly made our way toward Ukrainian-controlled territory."

Author: Jan-Philipp Scholz