BUCHAREST, Romania – Romania’s prime minister has defended an order to evict a major private television station from its premises, but acknowledges the notice period of five days was too short.
Dacian Ciolos was summed to Parliament Wednesday to explain the move, which senate speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu described as “an obvious, brutal attempt to suppress liberties.”
The state confiscated the studios of Antena television in 2014 following a court ruling to recuperate damages from a money laundering case. It issued a five day eviction notice on Monday that was appealed by Antena on Wednesday.
Dan Voiculescu, the former owner of Antena, began a 10-year sentence for money laundering in 2014 at which point his daughters took over the television station. The court ordered the confiscation of the studios to cover damages.
