Officials from the domestic security service SIS said on Monday that the special services have questioned four listeners to a live night broadcast called "Hyde Park" of the Chisinau-based radio station Antena C for having called on "overthrowing of the constitutional elected regime through violence, civic non-obedience and interethnic intolerance."

SIS spokesman Vitalie Burzacovschi told a news conference on Monday that the SIS staff have delivered documents issued on names of four radio listeners to the General-Prosecutor's Office, which will take a decision in this regard. However, prosecutors have refused to file criminal cases against these persons because no offence has been recorded, Burzacovschi said.

According to Burzacovschi, the SIS has summoned the radio listeners after it had monitored the "Hyde Park" programmes during half and a year, "at the request of certain citizens", and made the conclusion that the four persons had called on overthrowing of state order, civic non-obedience and xenophobia.

On the other hand, the SIS spokesman affirmed that the statements of four listeners have been determined by their poor political culture, adding that, in reality, they did not aim at achieving what they have publicly said. In exchange, the moderators of "Hyde Park" are to blame for failure to stop them before delivering such statements, Burzaconschi stressed. SIS has asked the Prosecutor-General's Office and Coordinating Audiovisual Council "to take a decision" in connection with "Hyde Park", he added.

The SIS staff banned "Hyde park" moderator Oleg Brega to take part in the news conference held by Burzacovschi.

The chairman of the Lawyers for Human Rights, Vitalie Nagacevschi, accused the SIS of attempt to intimidate the citizens who share other political ideals than of the Communist power by using an alleged call on overthrowing of constitutional order or xenophobia. This attempt has failed thanks to firmness of four citizens and prompt reaction of press, Nagacevschi stated. If authorities suspend the "Hyde Park" broadcast or licence of Antena C, they will breach both the European Convention of Human Rights and Moldovan Constitution, which provide the right to opinion and freedom of expression, he warned.

The radio station Antena C from Chisinau announced on March 18 that many radio listeners had been summoned by the SIS for questioning about their criticism against the communist authorities during a live night broadcast called "Hyde Park".

According to moderators, the listeners have been accused of launching criticism against the state authorities during the "Hyde park".

Earlier, Communist faction leader Victor Stepaniuc has told the press that if the questioning was focused on opinions launched during the live radio broadcast, the SIS actions are illegal.

At the same time, the Communist faction leader has 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.

Many non-government organisations have criticized the SIS actions, describing them as attack against freedom of expression.