President expresses gratitude to dedicated journalists who defend democracy and truth in Moldova

President Maia Sandu conveyed a message of gratitude and strategic analysis to journalists in the Republic of Moldova, emphasizing their vital role in defending democracy in the face of unprecedented external attacks on the country’s sovereignty. The head of state highlighted that genuine democracy directly depends on the existence of courageous, fair, and dedicated journalists.

Top performance in the Press Freedom Index

A central point of statement was the celebration of Moldova’s positive progress in the global ranking compiled by the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The successes mentioned by the president include:

Ranking ascent: Our country has climbed four positions in the Press Freedom Index, reaching 31st place globally.

Leader among candidate states: Moldova obtained the best score among all countries aspiring to join the European Union.

Regional exception: The Republic of Moldova is the only country in the region classified by RSF in the “satisfactory” category for press freedom.

The fight against disinformation and social responsibility

Despite this considerable progress, Maia Sandu warned that “society continues to face major challenges, especially due to sophisticated tools used to spread falsehoods.”

The head of state clearly underlined the distinction between the right to an opinion and manipulation, stating that freedom of expression must not be confused with the freedom to spread lies. In the president’s view, countering disinformation remains a shared responsibility of society as a whole. The solution she proposes for protecting democratic values and truth is to build strong cooperation based on respect and trust between state institutions, media representatives, and citizens, according to the head of state.

World Press Freedom Day (3 May) was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1993, at the initiative of UNESCO. The date marks the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration (1991), a document that supports a free, independent, and pluralistic press. The main goals of the event are to promote freedom of expression as a fundamental right; to assess the state of press freedom worldwide; to defend the independence of the media; and to commemorate journalists who died in the line of duty.