The radio station Antena C from Chisinau announced on Tuesday that many radio listeners have been summoned by the domestic security service SIS for questioning about their criticism against the communist authorities during a live night broadcast called "Hyde Park".

A listener, identified as Ion Smoleanchin, said on Tuesday that he has been repeatedly demanded to show up at the SIS headquarters to give explanations about his statements in a the "Hyde Park" programme. According to Smoleanchin, investigator Vasile Scaletchi has told him that he was acting on orders from Prosecutor-General Vasile Rusu, who requested that all radio critics be questioned.

The chairman of the Lawyers for Human Rights, Vitalie Nagacevschi, said that three persons have asked legal assistance from this non-government organisation after being summoned by SIS. Famous painter Isai Carmu is one of them, Nagacevschi stated. Investigator Scaletchi confirmed for Nagacevschi that he had summoned Carmu for "verification of his statement about an offence" which the painted had mentioned in a "Hyde Park" broadcast.

Nobody can be punished for expression of an opinion in the mass media, and the right to freedom of expression is guaranteed by Article 10 of European Convention of Human Rights and Article 32 from the Moldovan Constitution, Nagacevschi stressed.

Contacted by the interviewer for comments on the allegations, the chairman of the Helsinki-Moldova Committee, Stefan Uratu, said that the state authorities should encourage the citizens to freely express their thoughts, because this is a way to feel the pulse of governance and make things better. If the SIS does more than verifications of a reported offence, it can be accused of suppression of the freedom of expression.

SIS spokesman Vitalie Burzacovschi said the SIS actions did not overcome the legal framework. He said the security service would issue an official statement for the press in connection with the questioning of radio listeners.

Maria Vieru, chief expert for mass media relations within the Prosecutor-General's Office, dismissed the information that the prosecutor-general has ordered the SIS to question any persons who had shared their opinions during the broadcast.

Asked to comment on the incident connected to the Antena C broadcast, Communist faction leader Victor Stepaniuc told the press on Tuesday that people who claim to be summoned by the SIS to ask questions may ask an audience with him personally or with the chief of the parliamentary commission for state security in order to prove that they were told to show up at the SIS because of critical opinions against the Communist power.

If the questioning was focused on opinions launched during the live radio broadcast, the SIS actions are illegal, he said.

At the same time, the Communist faction leader stressed that the irresponsible public declarations may be sanctioned and the state or its representatives are free to defend themselves from defamatory statements in accordance with the law.

According to the opposition press, President Vladimir Voronin was extremely dissatisfied in connection with questioning held by the SIS employees and asked the SIS director for explanations.