Victor Roncea Blog

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To: International Federation of Journalists

The World Press Freedom Committee

Committee to Protect Journalists

Reporters Without Borders

South East Europe Media Organization

Call for attention from international media organizations to the arrest of Romanian journalist and TV owner Dan Diaconescu

June 24th, 2010

Romanian OTV television station owner and popular TV anchor Dan Diaconescu and one of his correspondent, Doru Parv, were placed on Wednesday, 23^rd of June, into custody for 29 days, on charges of blackmailing and threatening a local mayor, informed Romanian News Agency Mediafax (1).

A lower court in capital Bucharest allowed prosecutors’ request and ruled to place Diaconescu and Parv under preventive arrest, after a trial that was prolonged during the night until 5 am in the morning.

The lawyers of the two defendants said they would appeal the court ruling with the Bucharest Court. The decision brought supporters of Dan Diaconescu in the street and divided the press community of Romania.

Dan Diaconescu is the owner of 10 years old OTV station, who has a record of being persecuted by different Governments of Romania, for its original and sometimes controversy shows and for advocating for total freedom of expression. About 8 years ago the station had been arbitrary closed by the Government. Dan Diaconescu accused the then prime-minister of Romania, Adrian Nastase, for blackmailing him through his wife, Dana Nastase, in order to take control of 80% share of the TV company. The TV station was opened only after a strong call from various US and European bodies and from the international organizations who are supporting freedom of the press through out the world. No charges were ever taken to the Nastase family.

This time, Diaconescu and his correspondent, Parv, were heard by anti corruption prosecutors department’ (DNA) on Monday, after Dan Diaconescu’s office and home were search even he was outside the town, in vacation. Cutting short his holiday, Diaconescu came straight to the DNA office and was retain there for about 14 hours, in an abusive matter, for a so-called confrontation that went until 6.15 a.m., when he received a 24 hours detain mandate.

Parv, OTV correspondent from Arad county, was officially charged with blackmail in a corruption file opened in February 2010 for allegedly demanding money from Ion Mot, mayor of a commune in Arad county, western Romania, to avoid broadcasting compromising material about him. By that time Diaconescu was only a witness.

Daniel Fenechiu, Parv’s lawyer, told Mediafax Press Agency on Monday that prosecutors hold no other direct evidence against Diaconescu, except a recording of a TV promo broadcast in 2009, adding that the complaint filed by Mot targeted only Parv, who made no accusations whatsoever against Diaconescu during hearings. The mayor admitted in a TV interview that he has never spoke with Diaconescu whatsoever.

Mihai Rapcea, Diaconescu’s lawyer, declared that the only so called proves offered by DNA are based on the interpretation of some telephone conversation recordings. Rapcea’s consideration of the case are that is “made-up” for other purposes that are linked with his journalist activity and the OTV independent station.

Moreover, an official document released by DNA’s office shows that the interception of the telephone calls before the prosecution starts are illegal as it is stated by a Constitutional Court decision. The Court Motivation of his arrest is showing – black on white – that the only reason of keeping him in prison is that “he is a famous journalist” (2).

Taking in consideration all these facts Civic Media Association, a media ONG from Romania, has condemned the abusive modality of the inquiry, and has called the authorities to released professional journalist Dan Diaconescu and judge him in state of freedom, since he is not a dangerous criminal for the Romanian society. The style of this inquiry reminds of the communist dictatorship time and sends a negative message to journalists community of Romania – and not only – and its inalienable right to freedom of speech and of expression.

We ask the international organization for the defense of freedom of expression to keep an eye to this case and call the Romanian authorities to stop this way of treating a professional journalist that can be taken to Justice and judged in state of freedom and with his right to the presumption of innocence respected.

Thank you,

Victor Roncea, member of International Federation of Journalists

Founding president

Civic Media Association

www.civicmedia.ro

GSM: +4-0743-42-00-76

References:

(1) https://www.mediafax.ro/english/romanian-tv-station-owner-tv-producer-arrested-for-29-days-6440155

(2) https://roncea.ro/2010/06/24/motivele-arestarii-lui-dan-diaconescu-frizeaza-dementa-patronul-otv-este-considerat-pericol-public-pentru-ca-este-jurnalist-procurorul-dna-ii-da-lectii-de-morala-si-deontologie-jurnalistului/

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