Transnistria media guide

The separatist authorities exercise tight control over the media. Many outlets are owned either directly by the region's government or by business groups with close links to the authorities.

Western governments and media freedom groups say anti-government outlets face serious restrictions, adding that journalists often self-censor. These claims are denied by officials.

The Freedom House democracy advocacy group rated Transnistria as "not free" in 2023, in terms of political rights and civil liberties.

Residents have access to the Russian press, TV and radio but not to Moldovan media, access to which was cut following the 1992 fighting, and no Moldovan papers circulate in Transnistria.

All of Transnistria's media, regardless of ownership and their stances on social and economic policies, are pro-Russian.

Television is the most-influential medium. The Moldovan Zona de Securitate website has described First Transnistrian and TSV TV as "tools of mass disinformation" for the Transnistrian authorities, which are fully controlled by the Russian intelligence services.

The region's press has been in decline in recent years. Many papers have closed due to a shortage of funds. These include Komsomolskaya Pravda v Pridnestrovye, Novaya Gazeta and Profsoyuznye Vesti. The only survivors are the government-funded outlets and those existing on foreign grants.

There were 145,000 internet users in February 2024, comprising 31% of the population (datareportal.com).