The Center for Investigatiму Journalism, in partnership with an organization from Berlin, organized a training session for Russian journalists and human rights defenders declared as foreign agents in Russia. The training took place in Chisinau on December 21-22. To avoid unforeseen issues upon entering Moldova, our Berlin partners requested that we send the list of participants to the Border Police for verification. They also asked us to inquire if any of them might not be accepted in Moldova.

At the Border Police, I found it challenging to connect with the right person. Despite making several calls to the phone numbers listed on their website, no one answered. When a secretary finally answered, I was directed to the Press Service. From there, I learned that the police officer at the counter makes the decision about allowing entry, and it's advisable to submit an official information request. I submitted a request, inquiring about the required documents for a citizen of the Russian Federation visiting Moldova. I attached information about the seminar and the list of participants. The response I received was lengthy and convoluted, essentially suggesting that we should familiarize ourselves with the law. This information was already known to us, even without the Border Police's guidance.

I issued nominal invitations to each participant, although not mandated by the law. I thought it would be prudent to do so. On December 19, the first participants arrived, and each of them was detained for two hours upon entering Moldova. The following day, a similar scenario unfolded. Journalists who reached Chisinau informed me that the border police claimed they were not informed about any event. They suggested that if they had been informed about the participants' event, their attitude might have been different. I decided to write to the Border Police to inform them that approximately 15 more people were yet to arrive. While searching for contacts for Chisinau Airport Police on the Border Police Inspectorate's website, I couldn't find any information. I sent another letter to the management. I didn't have high expectations for a prompt response, and no one seemed eager to invest time in communication. The Russian journalists eventually arrived, all entered Moldova, and each one underwent a thorough inspection lasting from 40 minutes to 2 hours. Despite this, none of them were turned back. We had arranged for a transport company to meet them and bring them to the hotel. Due to the additional waiting time, costs increased, but the crucial aspect was that everyone arrived, participated in the seminar, and departed.

On December 26, the Border Police sent us a response to the request from December 20. What's in this reply doesn't matter; there is neither significant content in this response nor in the one I received on November 30, to which the respective institution now refers. The question is, what is the logic that someone took the time to create it, took it for signing, and then the interim chief or whoever is responsible for leading the Border Police signed it? Afterward, it was sent to the recipient, namely, the Center for Investigative Journalism. This response, from an official state institution, was sent six days after I needed it, four days after the event ended. What's the point of doing this? For the sake of checking a box? For reporting? I see no logic here. Not at all.... That's how things work in government structures…