Chapter 1
General Provisions

Article 1. The Freedom of the Press

(1) In Moldova Republic the freedom of the press represents a fundamental right, confirmed by the Constitution. The state guarantees to every person the right of free expression of opinions and ideas, truthful information by means of periodicals and press agencies, which hold their activity in conditions of political pluralism, as well as observance of the legislation as for copyrights.

(2) The censorship of any kind concerning periodicals and press agencies, the interference in their activity of preparing and spreading the information are prohibited.

Article 4. The Freedom of Expression and the Limitation of Publicity

(1) The periodicals and the press agencies publish, according to their own appreciation, any kind of materials and information, except:

a) materials that contains disrespect and defamation against the state and people, urge on war of aggression, national, racial or religious hate, inciting discrimination, territorial separatism, public violence, as well as other manifestations that violate the present constitutional regime;

Article 5. The Right to Establish Periodicals and Press Agencies

(1) The right of establishing periodicals and press agencies has any legal entity of Moldova Republic or natural person, citizen of Moldova Republic who has reached the age of 18 and lives in its territory.

(2) A periodical or a press agency may be founded by two or more legal entities or natural persons, who in this case are considered cofounders.

(3) Foreign natural persons and legal entities have the right to take part in the founding periodicals and press agencies only as cofounders and to own at most 49% of the statutory capital.

Article 8. The Leadership of the Periodicals and Press Agencies

(6) The editors (editors-in-chief) of the periodicals and the heads of the press agencies can be only the citizens of Moldova Republic.

The head of the Parliament
Petru Lucinschi
Chisinau, the 26-th of October, 1994
NR. 243-XII

Source: Unofficial translation