Russia's State Duma has accused Moldova of anti-Russian discrimination, over the new 'anti-propaganda' law that effectively bans Russian broadcasts in the country, Balkan Insight reports.

The State Duma announced a draft declaration last week, accusing Moldova of "discrimination" against Russian media, after Moldova's interim president Andrian Candu approved the government-backed "anti-propaganda" law designed to curb the Russian media presence in the former Soviet republic. Russian deputies called the gesture a "new anti-Russian step" by Moldova's pro-Western government.

The law on the Amendment and Completion of the Audiovisual Code was promulgated on 10 January 2018 by acting President Candu. The law bans most television and radio programs not produced in the European Union, the US, or Canada, or by the states that have not ratified the European Convention on Transborder Television. Effectively, it hits Russian broadcasts.

The law sanctions broadcasters that violate the law, from fines of 4.000 to 5.000 euros up to canceling broadcasting licenses.

Russia has accused the leader of Moldova's pro-European ruling party, Vlad Plahotniuc, of being behind the initiative. Moscow insists the law violates international law on free access to information and limits the rights of an important part of the citizenry of Moldova.

Last week, the president of Russia's Public Service Committee for the Development of Public Diplomacy, Humanitarian Cooperation and the Conservation of Traditional Values, Elena Sutormina, addressed the Council of Europe in connection with the law, and asked for a public statement on this issue.