Violations of human rights and fundemantal freedom in the Republic of Moldova, in the days following the Parliamentary elections of April 2009
Alleged violation of: -freedom of information and expression; -freedom of movement; – freedom of a fair trial; – prohibition of use of torture and ill treatment.
Summary
After being witness to the events in Republic of Moldova, events that followed the Parliamentary elections on April 5th, FLARE Network considered absolutely necessary to monitor the situation and to bring into the attention of the international community, the violation of freedom of expression and of press, violation of freedom of movement and of rights ro a fair legal process and the violation of absolute prohibition of torture and other form of ill treatment. The monitoring team refers in this report to the period of 6th to 12th of April although some relevant facts that occurred later are included. Many facts are still unclear and information is being released as the report is being edited.

The peaceful protest on the 6th of April continued on the 7th of April when almost 30,000 people gathered in the center of Chisinau. State institutions were attacked and police forces were sent to control the crowd. In the night between 7th and 8th the first abuses were recorded. Almost 200 people were reported missing the next day, witnesses saying they were picked up from the streets, thrown into cars and taken into unknown destinations. Also cruel beatings and acts of violence were reported. Many of these acts were committed by police officers in uniform and in civil clothes, that failed to identify themselves when arresting. Later news showed that mostly young people were detained and many were subject to torture and ill-treatment, testimonials showing that prisoners have been beaten or treated in a inhuman and degrading way, and even subject to torture.

Parents, lawyers, relative knew nothing about the missing people. None was informed. Also the first case of an abuse against a journalist, Oleg Brega is registered. While witnessing police beating young people and trying to report from the news he was beaten and had his equipment confiscated.

A true hunting began the next day where video filmed by passers or protesters showed how people chased on the street, stopped by officers in plain clothes and taken away without any explanation. Images and witnesses show that large groups of men picked up people, or followed others and then took them to police stations, but none knew where. The officers were not wearing uniforms and did not identify themselves. Neither did they state the reason of the arrest, most of the time even using force without being necessary.

Witnesses reported police beating groups of young people in the street, people were verbally abused by officers.
In the following days journalist became targets. Representatives of the independent press in Moldova and Romanian correspondents have been interrogated, had their equipment confiscated, they have been intimidated and followed. Journalists were taken to police stations without any explanation and detained without a reason.

Also as young people were released from jail evidence of the abuse suffered during detention were obvious. Beaten, threatened, tortured, forced to sign documents they knew nothing about- this is the treatment the arrested suffered.
After listening to testimonies, watching interviews, videos we can say that in Moldova the right to justice was first of all violated by the authorities. There was no presumption on innocence, people were not informed about the reason of detention, were brutally taken from the street, verbally and physically aggressed. The right to defense is also a right that is guaranteed by the constitution of the Republic, although not in these cases, where people were not allowed to call lawyers or to have legal assistance. Police even interrogated children in the street, which is again a violation of the law.
“They would call our name and the judge decided how many days of detention each of us deserves. The ones that had obvious marks and bruises from beating received more days in order not to have them when they get out. I got out because I did not have a lot of bruises.”, Ion Cretu, 20 years old.

The freedom of opinion and speech is guaranteed by the Constitution and also is the access to any information of public interest, information that can not be restricted. Internet connection was cut off, access to independent Molodovan online newspapers was restricted, local TV stations that were broadcasting images of the protests could not be watched, and the only information source was the national TV Station that was broadcasting entertainments shows.

“They were with a van, a minibus, between 12 and 15 people. They detained me by force, with bats and with brutality. They put me to the ground and starting hitting me – my head, my back, my hands. I thought I will not get put of there alive. And then they took me to the headquarters. There I wanted to see my lawyer and that’s when they starting beating me even harder. “You want a lawyer??” they were saying and then hitting me even harder”. (A Moldovan student in France that came home to vote).

“They beat me and threaten me with physical aggression, asking me first of all to sign a paper through which I was to admit that I was paid by the opposition leaders to protest. Which is not true. Also they kicked me forcing me to give them my e-mail passwords. In the end I had to” (Anatol Matasaru, anti-communist activist, detained on the 9th of April)
Many of the parents of arrested young people have notified media that their children have no access to lawyers and most of them did not even know anything about their children for many days. Parents were going from one Police Station to another looking for their children. A UN observer managed to visit Penitentiary no.13 and his statements confirmed the rumors. «They all have traces of beatings and injuries,» Berry said, adding that practically all the prisoners are aged between 18 and 24. «From what I saw and heard from those 40 young people, I can say that there are serious human rights violations, namely the practices of inhuman and degrading treatment and preventing the right to legal advice, fair court proceedings and appropriate conditions of detention«,said the UN official.

Three people passed away since the beginning of the events. All three victims have obvious evidence of violence, bruises, concussions. Valeriu Boboc’ s had many injuries and broken rib. Police report says he died of intoxication.

Ion Tabuleac was dropped by a car in the yard of the Emergency Hospital in Chisinau on 7th of April at night. Not much explanation was given to the family and the report says he died because of thorax trauma.

Eugen Tapu’s parents found out about his death only after about a week. The police told them he hanged himself with his shoelaces. The 80 kilos young man had no hanging marks.

The representatives of independent media were threatened, attacked, taken to police stations and interrogated without any reasons. Romanian journalist were also threatened and also expelled from the country. Also many journalist were forbidden to enter Republic of Moldova even before the instauration of the visa regime.

“I went to see and film how some youngsters were beaten and aggressed by many citizens dressed as civilians – around 20-30 of them(…).They threw me to the ground and they were asking why was I filming. I told them I was press, I am a journalist. And one of them recognized me after my voice and said “Oh, this is Brega!”. And started hitting me and they hit me all over. I have a head concussion, canes marks on my back. And they took my work camera and a small camera that was my own.” (Oleg Brega, cameraman for JurnalTV.md)

“I was detained while I was in the street among with the TVR correspondent in Chisinau. After we had a tea together at a terrace they just lifted us by surprise and took us away. There were no charges against us and I was asked to write what I had been doing on the 6th and 7th of April, and I was kept for around 6 hours” (Ion Terguta, Antena 3 Romanian Television correspondent in Chisinau)

FLARE Network expresses it’s concern for the people currently in Republic of Moldova. Since the freedom of expression is not guaranteed anymore, if media is censored and it’s freedom restricted, if people face ill-treatment and their judicial rights are not respected, then we believe the international community can not ignore the situation. Therefore we believe that is it urgently necessary for an international committee to ensure that law enforcement in the territory of Moldova uses force strictly in accordance with international standards. To start an investigation regarding the cases of violation of human rights and to make sure that all cases of torture and ill-treatment are identified and solved. Also it is necessary to ensure that all detainees are informed of their rights and ensured legal assistance.

Also, special attention must be paid to ensuring the freedom of the press, to ensure that the media can keep the population informed and can work without intimidation and censor.

Also, FLARE Network believes it is very important to support any victim of such violations and that victims should receive compensation, rehabilitation and, also in the cases of the relatives of victims, explanations and reglementation.

  • The entire report here: http://team.salvaeco.org/bradu