The “Periscop” broadcast was removed from the station’s programs after Victor Ciutacu and Cristian Tudor Popescu were accused of economic interests and connections with mafia groups.

Bogdan Radulescu, the producer, accuses the station’s administration of removing his broadcast out of political reasons, after a debate concerning two of the most important journalistic figures in Romania.

Victor Ciutacu is currently the chief editor at “Jurnalul National” newspaper while Cristian Tudor Popescu is senior editor at “Gandul” newspaper.

The broadcast was removed because of an act of “editorial indiscipline”, according to the public station’s administration.

March 21, a problematic broadcast The theme of the show, which sparked the conflict, was “Economic, political and business aspects in relation with the press”. Amongst other statements, Bogdan Radulescu said that Victor Ciutacu is the managind director of a company, named GES, which is, according to Radulescu, owned by Fathi Taher.

Radulescu claimed that Ciutacu had attacked Taher’s competitors with an article in “Jurnalul National”. By using sources like blogs and the Amos News Agency (owned by the Intact media group), Radulescu spoke about Cristian Tudor Popescu.

The very next day, the broadcast was removed from the station’s program. “This is a clear sign of cesnsorship”, Cerasela Radulescu (producer) says in a letter which was sent yesterday to the station’s administration. Bogdan Radulescu says the show was of  “national and European interest”.

Victor Ciutacu denied the accusations. “I was, as an APAPS employee, a member of the Administration Board at GES SA”, Ciutacu says, adding that he was not a share holder and that, after the company was bought by Fathi Taher, he continued to be the state’s formal representative in the Board, without getting involved.

Radio Romania Actualitati: “Editorial indiscipline”

Radio Romania Actualitati decided that this is a case of editorial indiscipline, Doina Jalea, the station’s editor-in-chief said. “We cannot speak of censorship or anything like that”, Jalea said, quoted by Mediafax.

“It’s the management’s decision following an act of editorial indiscipline and misinformation of the station’s management carried out by Bogdan Radulescu. This station carries out a responsible journalism, one that gives proofs to what is stated and allows a right to respond o possible accusations”, Jalea added.

She also said that the journalist had announced a different theme of the broadcast than what was aired. The same broadcast received public summons from the National Council of Audiovisual (CNA).