In Moldova, a country at the crossroads of a Soviet legacy and Western democratic values, press freedom is constantly tested. Ranked 35th in Reporters Without Borders’ 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Moldova’s position may suggest progress, but behind the ranking lies a media landscape fractured by oligarchic interests and economic hardship.
As Moldova’s leading investigative newspaper, Ziarul de Garda stands at the forefront of resistance to these forces, with two decades of exposing corruption, championing public accountability, and inspiring a generation of journalists to speak truth to power.
Founded in 2004 by journalists Alina Radu and Aneta Grosu, Ziarul de Garda was born out of a deep yearning for freedom. “We had no money, no office, and no legal support. People wouldn’t even rent to us. They said we’d bring them trouble with the authorities,” Radu recalled.
Left with no other option, the newspaper launched its first edition from the basement of the Independent Journalism Center in the capital of Chișinău.
A mission rooted in courage
Ziarul de Garda instantly became a force for accountability in a country where journalism often served political interests. “Our motto, ‘Tell the truth,’ was not just about our reporting. It was an invitation to our readers. We wanted every Moldovan citizen to feel empowered to speak out, to trust that they could expose wrongdoings through us,” said Radu.
These foundational convictions led her into some of Moldova’s darkest corners, from exposing human trafficking and the organ trade to investigating the corrupt wealth of public officials. In the early 2000s, Radu collaborated with European institutions on reports that revealed a booming organ trafficking network with Turkey as the main market.
Radu’s work became the driver for legislative change and broader international efforts to dismantle trafficking rings and protect citizens from exploitation. “That’s when I understood that journalism could save lives,” she said.
Leading in a male-dominated space
From its early days, Ziarul de Garda was revolutionary in the country’s male-dominated media landscape, where editorial decisions were often made in saunas with politicians. “It was a time when media outlets in the country were led by men with deep ties to political power. A woman running a newspaper was a threat,” Radu recalled.
But Radu’s determination had deep roots. Her career began in 1989, at a moment of historic change when the Soviet Union began to crumble and Moldova was starting to forge its own path. “I wasn’t afraid for a single day,” she said. “I saw the people in the streets, and I wanted to be with them, to tell their stories.”
Radu worked at the country’s first public television station, at a time when most of her colleagues were still paralyzed by decades of censorship. That first wave of independence inspired her, and Radu could never turn away from it.
Public trust as ally
Radu attributes Ziarul de Garda’s influence and growth to its deep connection with the public. With nearly 20,000 subscribers, Ziarul de Garda receives a steady stream of tips, testimonies, and requests for help from citizens. “People trust us. They write to us. They challenge us. Our readers are our watchdogs, too. They want to know when their tip will be investigated, and they hold us to our word,” she explained.
This trust leads to real impacts. In a recent investigation into the pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor’s illicit activities in Moldova, the newspaper’s undercover team revealed a coordinated scheme to finance protests and influence elections. The response was immediate: readers flooded authorities with messages demanding action. “Our community gave that investigation power,” Radu noted.
Holding power to account — at great risk
Ziarul de Garda’s work has never been without risk: Radu and her team have faced intimidation and death threats over the years due to their reporting. “Some of the people exposed by the newspaper have threatened to cut my head and my hands off,” she said. “But then I look at our young reporters and see their conviction that their work matters. I can’t even imagine telling them I want to quit. I owe them more than that. It is their passion that keeps me going.”
The newspaper’s work has also shifted the national perception of justice. Public office holders know they’re being watched. Judges, who once threatened reporters when exposed, know that their actions can be publicly questioned. “We helped create a culture where people are no longer afraid of speaking. And that is not a small thing,” Radu said.
A legacy of integrity
Over the course of two decades, Ziarul de Garda has covered 12 governments, criticizing each when necessary and without compromise. It has never aligned itself with political power, and in the interest of transparency, it publishes its financial records and list of donors. “We’ve grown steadily because we never betrayed our principles. People recognize that,” said Radu.
Like many outlets around the world, Ziarul de Garda faces turbulent waters today. “Social media giants are shutting down independent fact-checking. Disinformation is on the rise. As journalists, we are expected to adapt quickly, but our financial safety nets are disappearing,” Radu warned. Despite these setbacks, she sees investigative journalism as more essential than ever: “If we don’t uncover who is attacking our democracy, who is manipulating elections, and explain it in a way the public can understand, then we all lose.”
Moldova’s future hangs in the balance amid the war in Ukraine, the growing influence of Kremlin-backed actors in the country, and mounting economic challenges. But Ziarul de Garda remains resolute in its mission. “My generation of journalists didn’t choose this profession for ourselves. We did it for the entire society,” said Radu. “I want to remind young journalists: fight for your rights, but also for the public’s right to know the truth. Because if people lose trust in journalism, we don’t just lose a profession. We lose democracy.”
Photo by Sasha Pleshco on Unsplash.
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