Authorities vs. Oligarchs: The Battle for Moldova's Media Market
Moldova's media market has long struggled with the concentration of television and radio stations under the control of politicians and oligarchs. In recent years, authorities have implemented several decisions aimed at increasing transparency and breaking up media monopolies. Key legislative changes in 2015 required television and radio stations to declare their beneficial owners, while 2017 legislation limited ownership to two broadcast licenses of each type (two for TV and two for radio).
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moldova declared a state of emergency that lasted until the end of 2023. During this period, a government Commission for Emergency Situations (CES), led by the Prime Minister, suspended broadcasting licenses for 12 television stations. The suspensions were based on allegations of war propaganda and affiliations with fugitive oligarchs under criminal investigation or conviction. In some cases, suspended stations' programs migrated to other TV channels.
After the state of emergency ended in late 2023, a Council for the Promotion of National Investment Projects, also headed by the Prime Minister, began temporarily revoking broadcasting licenses from stations linked to fugitive oligarchs.
The first major wave of suspensions in December 2022 affected six TV stations, including TV6 and Orhei TV, Primul în Moldova, and Accent TV - all linked to oligarch Ilan Șor, a former MP and mayor of Orhei, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for involvement in Moldova's largest banking fraud, known as the "theft of the billion." The suspensions also included NTV Moldova, controlled by Socialist deputy Corneliu Furculiță, and RTR Moldova, which broadcast Russian programming and was owned by the Stețco family.
In late 2023, authorities targeted six more stations, including those formerly part of Vladimir Plahotniuc's media holding. Plahotniuc, the former Democratic Party leader who governed Moldova during the "captured state" period (2016-2019), is currently implicated in the "theft of the billion" case. The affected stations included Prime TV, Publika TV, Canal 2, and Canal 3, along with Orizont TV and ITV, which had taken over programming from previously suspended Șor-controlled stations.
By December 2023, the Investment Council had temporarily suspended permits for eight television stations, drawing criticism from media NGOs who highlighted concerns about the lack of transparency in the process. The following year saw further actions, with Canal 5 and Maestro FM radio station suspended in March 2024, and Mega TV and Familia losing their permits in August 2024.
Throughout this period, Moldova's Information and Security Service has blocked access to numerous websites within Moldova, including those of suspended television stations and Russian propaganda portals. Some outlets have circumvented these restrictions by changing their URLs and remain active in Moldova's media market.