Non-governmental media organisations condemn the aggressive and defiant behaviour of the candidate for the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova Alexandr Nesterovschi and members of the PSRM Youth Guard against journalists Nordnews. On 7 July 2021, while carrying out their mission to inform citizens about events of public interest, reporters became the target of physical aggression by politician Alexandr Nesterovschi and members of the Socialist Party's youth guard. Their inappropriate reaction was manifested in connection with the journalists' request for access to Igor Dodon's meeting with voters in Balti. Several people built a wall at the entrance to the building planned for the meeting to block journalists' access to the event. At the same time, representatives of other media outlets were allowed unhindered access to the hall. The signatory organisations consider this behaviour to be defiant and unacceptable, stressing that the actions of politician Alexandr Nesterovschi and members of the Young Guard of the Party of Socialists contravene not only the generally accepted rules of conduct in a democratic society, but also the provisions of the legislation in force. We inform the PSRM politician and the members of the Youth Guard that their actions constitute a violation of the right to bodily integrity of the person, individual freedom and safety, as well as an interference with the special rights guaranteed to journalists. The signatory organisations vehemently condemn the aggressive behaviour directed against journalists and point out the inadmissibility of tolerating such serious violations. We recall that according to Art. 4 para. (1) of the Law on Freedom of Expression, the state guarantees the freedom of expression of the media and no one may prohibit or prevent the media from disseminating information of public interest except in accordance with the law. Moreover, para. (5) of the same article provides that intentional unlawful hindering of media activity entails criminal liability. We emphasise that restricting journalists' rights by preventing access or selective acceptance of events of public interest is incompatible with both national legislation and international standards on freedom of the press. The signatory organisations condemn the hindering of journalists' work, limiting access and discrimination through selective access to events of public interest and call on politician Alexandr Nesterovschi and members of the Young Guard of the Socialist Party to adopt appropriate behaviour and refrain in the future from showing any form of intolerance towards journalists and media institutions. At the same time, we call on all candidates involved in the campaign for the early parliamentary elections to stop the vicious practice of restricting journalists' access or selective acceptance to events of public interest. We call on the law enforcement bodies of the Republic of Moldova, in accordance with their legal powers, to take note of the acts committed and to initiate the procedures provided for by law in order to hold the perpetrators responsible. Centre for Independent Journalism Association of Environmental and Environmental Tourism Journalists Media-Guard Association Electronic Press Association Independent Press Association Press Freedom Committee "Acces-Info" Centre for Journalistic Investigations RISE Moldova