interpretation that takes into account the relevant jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights). According to the judges of the Constitutional Court, the contested provision does not allow for a reasonable relationship of proportionality between competing values, does not ensure a fair balance between the right of access to information and protection of privacy, and therefore, restriction is not necessary in a democratic society. Freedom of the press The People's Advocate considers that in 2019 there were no developments regarding the freedom of the press in the Republic of Moldova. In the conditions of a year marked by major political turmoil, it was not possible to adopt the laws necessary for the long-term development of independent media institutions in the Republic of Moldova, as well as decision-making that contributes to creating a favorable environment for media activity. Issues on the agenda remained the concentration and monopolization of the media, political control over the most influential media institutions, limited access of journalists to some categories of information of public interest, maintaining unequal, uncompetitive conditions in the advertising market, conditions of insufficiently secure activity for journalists. Freedom of the press and failure to investigate the cartel market on the advertising market are outstanding areas of the Republic of Moldova, according to the European Union Ambassador to Chisinau, Peter Michalko, expressed in the context of assessing the degree of implementation of the National Action Plan of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement , for the period 2017–2019. At the same time, national and international media experts101 estimate that the situation of the media in the Republic of Moldova remains serious. Journalists have faced threats from politicians or civil servants over the past year, and the inefficiently enforced media legislation has encouraged this phenomenon102. The makers of the Index on the Situation of the Press in Moldova (ISPM) in 2019 note that the poor implementation of media legislation has maintained and stimulated an unfavorable climate for the activity and development of the independent press. 101 https://freedomhouse.org/country/moldova/freedomworld/2020?fbclid=IwAR1IIa1SNwtMJ1inHzWYlDAM4ju25KHPe95FjK7xDmSZ_3L72_gBVIsLgRQ 102 Index on the Situation of the Press in Moldova (ISPM) in 2019, launched on February 26, 2020 by the Center for Independent Journalism; 58