Moldova has refused accreditation to three Georgian television stations for the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers meeting in Chișinău, while the European Parliament separately suspended Imedi TV journalists’ access to all of its premises for one year. The stations — Imedi TV, PosTV and Rustavi 2 — were turned away as Moldova hosts the 135th Ministerial Session on 15 May at the Palace of the Republic.
The Moldovan Foreign Ministry said the accreditation requests were reviewed under national law and the rules that apply to foreign journalists. The decision lands as more than 50 delegations from member states and more than 20 foreign ministers are expected in the capital for a gathering that also includes support for Ukraine, efforts to combat disinformation and foreign interference, and plans to strengthen security and democratic resilience.
The three stations are described as de facto communication platforms for Georgia’s governing Georgian Dream party, which critics call pro-Russian. That political backdrop gives the accreditation dispute a sharper edge than a routine press decision: it comes as Moldova uses its turn at the Council of Europe helm to argue for tighter resistance to disinformation, even as it polices access for outlets it sees as part of the same information battle.
The ministerial session marks the end of Moldova’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, a post it is holding for only the second time after 2003. When the meeting closes, the rotating chairmanship will pass to the Principality of Monaco. The agenda also includes the Democratic Pact for Europe and international cooperation, underscoring how broad the diplomatic briefing is likely to be in Chișinău.
The day begins at 09:00 with remarks from Maia Sandu, Mihai Popșoi and Alain Berset. A joint press conference is set for 14:00 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Isabelle Berro-Amadeï and Berset. For Moldova, the event is both a showcase and a test: it is presenting itself as a country capable of hosting Europe’s senior diplomats while making clear that access to its stage will not be open to every newsroom.
