PREMIERE: TV distributors of Gagauzia fined for failing to protect national audiovisual space

Chisinau, July 6. /MOLDPRES/- The Audiovisual Council (CA) applied for the first time fines to the distributors of Gagauzia for not protecting the national audiovisual space and operating without a permissive act.
At today's meeting the CA members applied sanctions of one hundred thousand lei (five thousand euros) for not protecting the national audiovisual space to the distributors "Oguzsatlink" Ltd and "ILK HALK TELEVIZIONU" Ltd from Găgăuzia. They rebroadcast informative and analytical programs of television channels from the Russian Federation and Belarus, in violation of the provisions of art. 17 of the Audiovisual Media Services Code (CSMA).
"Oguzsatlink" was fined 50,000 lei for rebroadcasting TV programs from the TV channels Первый канал, НТВ, Россия 1, РБК, Россия 24, Беларусь 24. "ILK HALK TELEVIZIONU" also rebroadcasts TV programs prohibited by the CSMA from the channels Красная линия, НТВ, Россия 24, Беларусь 24. The sanction was also 50,000 lei.
The distributors are to cease within 24 hours the broadcasting of programs that violate the country's information security. They also faced fines for activity without a retransmission authorization or broadcast license. "Oguzsatlink" retransmits, contrary to the law, 58 television media services, and "ILK HALK TELEVIZIONU" - 37. Both distributors received fines of 19,000 lei each for activity without the permissive act from the CA and are due to legalize the activity in no more than 15 working days, according to CA.
At the same time, "ILK HALK TELEVIZIONU" managed by Stepan Piron was also fined 19,000 lei for broadcasting the TV channel "Первый народный" without a broadcast license.
Another distributor, "Steel Trading Group" Ltd was fined 29,000 lei for activity without retransmission authorization in Glodeni. CA decided to offer a term of 15 working days to legalize activity.
The total amount of the sanctions applied at today's meeting is 186,000 lei.
Photo: CA