Parliament of the Republic of Moldova

Government of the Republic of Moldova

European Union Delegation to Moldova

Embassy of the Russian Federation to Moldova

Embassy of Ukraine to Moldova

US Embassy to Moldova

OSCE Mission in Moldova

United Nations Organization in Moldova

Special UN Repporteur on Human Rights Defenders

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

Civil Society Organizations condemn the so-called criminal prosecution against an organization that is defending and promoting human rights

27 April 2015

On 17 April 2015, the so-called “State Security Committee” (local KGB) of the Transnistrian region issued a statement. This document referred to the activity of the civil society organizations from the Transnistrian region, which are funded by foreign donors. The self-proclaimed authority labels the activity of such organizations as being directed against the unrecognized and illegal statehood on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The activity of civil society organizations, especially of the “Promo-LEX” Association, is labeled as being directed against the “statehood” of the unrecognized region and respectively, a criminal investigation was initiated.

The “Promo-LEX” activity in the area of human rights is well known. The most relevant fields include the right to education, freedom and security, freedom of movement, right to property, right to life, prohibition of torture and other cruel treatments, right to a fair trial, domestic violence, freedom of association, access to information, non-discrimination, assurance of free and fair elections, and others. For its efforts, including for the promotion and defence of human rights in the Transnistrian region, the Association was awarded by national and international organizations. The Association has a brave team, which assumed the role of promotion and defense of citizens from the Transistrian region, regardless of their ethnicity and citizenship, defending their rights and freedoms at the local level (of the left bank of the Nistru River), in the justice system of the Republic of Moldova and in the European Court of Human Rights.

Through its activity, the Association revealed both to the Moldovan society and international community the severe violations of the fundamental human rights and liberties in the unrecognized region. The report of former Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed the systemic problems that “Promo-LEX” has been referring to in its reports since 2005. A number of international organizations reacted promptly to the attack initiated by Tiraspol’s “KGB” and called for cessation of any attacks of this type[1]

The signatory organisations express their solidarity, support and concern for the security and integrity of the persons who work in the Non-Government Organisations from the Transintrian region, in particular “Promo-LEX” Association. The signatories of this statement require:

1. Public condemnation of unconstitutional government’s actions taken on a constant base against the civil society from the region, as well as against “Promo-LEX” Association;

2. OSCE Mission in Moldova to urgently intervene with the unconstitutional government and request guarantees for representatives of the associative sector who carry out their activities in that region.

3. Provision of guarantees and security and protective measures by the constitutional authorities, which are required for the ordinary activity of the “Promo-LEX” Association team, including considering the possibility to initiate a criminal or administrative prosecution of the persecution activities;

4. Inclusion, as a matter of priority, of this exceptional and unprecedented case on the agenda of negotiations in 5+2 format on the settlement of Transnistrian conflict, and on the agenda of other national and international authorities;

5. Insisting on the promotion, monitoring and defense of human rights in the territory controlled by the de facto authorities of Tiraspol.

Signatories:

“Habitat” Regional Development Agency,
“Infonet” Alliance of Community Centers for Access to Information and Training,
Alliance of NGOs active in the field of Social Protection of Child and Family (ASPCF),
Amnesty International Moldova,
“Casa Marioarei” Association Against Violence,
Women’s Association for Environment Protection and Sustainable Development,
Small Business Association,
“APOLLO” Association for the Development of Culture and Protection of Copyright and Related Rights,
Foreign Policy Association (FPA),
Electronic Press Association (APEL),
Independent Press Association (IPA),
BIOS,
“Expert-Grup” Independent Think-Tank,
Economic Development Center,
Legal Centre for Women,
“CERTITUDINE” Center for Assistance and Information of Young Economists,
“GENDERDOC-M” Information Center,
“Memoria” Rehabilitation Center of Torture Victims,
“DIALOG-Pro” Resource Center,
Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (LRCM),
Resource Center for Human Rights (CReDO),
“DACIA” Youth Resource Centre,
“La Strada” International Center,
National Center of Roma People,
Partnership for Development Center,
Center for Independent Journalism,
Regional Environmental Center (REC Moldova),
Political Club of Women 50/50,
National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM),
Eco-Razeni,
Institute for Public Policy (IPP),
“Viitorul” Institute for Development and Social Initiatives,
“Millennium” Institute for Training and Development,
“Clinica Juridica Universitara” Public Institution,
“Diaconia” Social Mission,
Stefan Voda Territorial Organization of the Ecological Movement of Moldova,
Terra-1530,
Transparency International Moldova.