Government spokesperson: Streaming App broadcasting Russian channels banned by SIS blocked in Moldova

The streaming application HaiTV, which the Audiovisual Council announced included a list of 32 audiovisual media services from Russia and Belarus, previously banned by the Intelligence and Security Service /SIS/, has been blocked in Moldova. The clarification was made today by government's spokesperson Daniel Vodă, who emphasized that the competent authority has issued blocking letters in this regard. 


“We have a breaking news: HaiTV application is blocked in Moldova. I remind you, many people in our country, we are talking about hundreds of cases, received invitations via the Viber application to download this app and watch haitv.md online. Authorities are acting in coordination. Following the notification, including from the Audiovisual Council, regarding the retransmission of prohibited content by HaiTV application and the site haitv.md, the competent authorities have issued blocking letters”, stated Daniel Vodă after today's cabinet meeting. 


According to the government spokesperson, the content distributed in this application comes from media sources of Russia and Belarus, these being “services already banned in the Republic of Moldova for security reasons and because they promote war propaganda”.


“The application and site allow access to dozens of Russian channels, redirecting users to platforms such as, for example, federal televisions in Russia, which many have already been blocked by the Intelligence and Security Service before. Following these findings, the competent institutions have been mobilized to enforce the law and stop broadcasting illegal content. HaiTV application will not be available in the territory of the Republic of Moldova, thus we are defending our democracy, freedom and people's right to be correctly informed”, Daniel Vodă emphasized.


The official mentioned that similar measures will be taken in other cases if law violations are found.

He urged citizens to get informed only from official sources. “The first source of credible information remains state institutions, but also national and international media institutions, which are objective and follow a deontological code in favor of citizens, by correctly reflecting the situation both at the national level and beyond the country's borders”, concluded Daniel Vodă.

The Audiovisual Council announced at the beginning of this week about a concerted massive promotion campaign through social networks of HaiTV streaming application and the webpage www.haitv.md. They contain a list of 32 audiovisual media services from Russia and Belarus, most of which have been previously blocked in the territory of the Republic of Moldova by the Intelligence and Security Service.