Moldovan Investigative Journalist Mariana Rață Receives Death Threat After Political Interview

November 04, 2025 – Modova – 

Investigative journalist and TV host Mariana Rață of the independent broadcaster TV8 was issued a death threat on October 30 following a live interview with politician Renato Usatîi, according to a statement by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Rață reported receiving a series of voice messages via Facebook Messenger from a user identifying as a supporter of Usatîi’s party, claiming knowledge of her home address and warning of serious consequences if she did not alter her reporting stance.

The messages identified the sender as “Boris Cerlat,” alleging he acted on behalf of Usatîi, leader of the populist Our Party (Partidul Nostru). Rață’s legal team viewed the threat as a direct result of her editorial work and commentary on electoral transparency and state-level corruption—beats she has specialised in throughout her career as senior editor and host of the political talk show “Cutia Neagră.”

The CPJ’s alert urged Moldovan authorities to launch a “prompt, thorough and transparent investigation” into the threat, emphasising the need to identify the chain of command behind the intimidation and guarantee Rață’s safety. The organisation pointed to the alarming implication: when a journalist is threatened for performing standard press duties, it undermines the free-expression rights of the entire media sector.

Rață’s case highlights a broader erosion of press protections in Moldova, where journalistic work on politically sensitive topics increasingly carries personal risk. Observers say the use of anonymous digital threats and home-address references signals a shift toward more direct suppression tactics that aim to instill fear, push self-censorship, and disrupt investigative journalism.

Media-freedom advocates in Chişinău have called for protective measures, including secure accommodation, emergency evacuation protocols, and a legal framework for prosecuting digital-harassment incidents explicitly targeting journalists. They warn that unless substantive action is taken, such threats will deepen the climate of vulnerability for independent journalists in Moldova and weaken the public’s access to critical information.

Reference – 

https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/11/rights-group-calls-for-investigation-after-moldova-journalist-threatened-online/

https://cpj.org/2025/11/moldovan-journalist-mariana-rata-receives-death-threat/amp/