The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO),* an affiliate of the International Press Institute, has expressed bewilderment that a group of journalists travelling from Romania to report from Chisinau in Moldova, were stopped by the authorities at the border and forbidden entry. 

Moldavian officials apparently requested different documents from the journalists such as invitations, special healthcare insurances, and accreditations from the Moldovan government. Some journalists were not given any explanation as to why they could not enter the country.
 
SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic described the move as a clear restriction of the free movement of journalists. "I call on the Moldovan authorities to respect the right to the free movement of individuals, journalists and freedom of expression and reporting. Asking for an accreditation or other documents from journalists on the border was against the rules. Foreign journalists need accreditation only if they wish to be accredited as permanent correspondents in Moldova or to have access to official state institutions and representatives," Vujovic said.
 
SEEMO is also worried about attacks against journalists that allegedly happened on 9 and 10 April 2009. Constantin Rogodantev, cameraman for TV station Pro TV from Chisinau, was allegedly assaulted on 9 April, in the night, by police forces protecting the headquarters of Moldovan government. As the TV station Pro TV reported, two police officers hit him and forced him to hand over his tape. On the same evening journalist Yevgenyia Kironaki, cameraman Mihai Valentin Buzduga and driver Gabriel Colac of Romanian TV station Realitatea TV were also detained by the Moldovan police. They were released a few hours later and they left for Romania.

The media-watch organisation has also expressed alarm about the kidnapping of Rodica Mahu, editor-in-chief of Jurnal de Chisinau daily newspaper, on 10 April 2009. She was reporting for her newspaper and was kidnapped in front of the Government building by four unknown civilians, interrogated by the police and released two hours later. SEEMO is also alarmed about the case of Doru Dendiu of the Romanian TVR. He was reporting from Moldova for TVR on 10 April in the morning, when the police came and asked him to stop his work. After that, TVR was unable to receive further contact from Dendiu.

Vujovic urged the police and authorities of Moldova to identify and punish the officers involved in all these incidents.

* The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional media organisation active in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Republic of Macedonia / FYROM, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.