alegeri.md

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has got and considered all reports on final results of the vote recount in the April 5, 2009 elections. According to available data, the CEC will report the generalised results on April 21, 2009 after recounting the ballots in line with a decision by the Constitutional Court. (Source: CEC communication)

The Council of Europe (CoE) will provide Moldova with the necessary support to begin a civic conciliation political dialogue and respect the human rights, Jean-Louis Laurens, Director General of the CoE Directorate for Democracy and Political Affairs, told a meeting with Moldovan Speaker Marian Lupu on Friday. The European official is on a fact-collection visit to Moldova at the initiative of CoE Secretary-General Terry Davis. Lupu said that the Moldovan authorities focus now on restoring the civic cohesion, ensuring respect for human rights, reinstating legal norms and democratic values. According to Lupu, the end of all pursuits against participants in the protests ordered recently by the chief of state is an important step forward national conciliation, stabilisation of social-political situation in the country. (Source: Omega)

Law courts have completed pursuits against majority of participants in the April 7 violent protests. The Prosecutor-General’s Office began the process on April 16, giving green light to an appeal by the outgoing Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, who ordered the end of all investigations against participants in the protests. Roman Mihaies, lawyer of an arrested protester, said that “each case is examined separately because this is a closed proceeding.” At the same time, all the protesters are released in the court hall, except for grave cases. (Source: Omega)

The Chisinau City Hall regrets that “the terror of the communist regime against civil population is going on,” according to a statement by Chisinau Mayor-General Dorin Chirtoaca. He said that despite the end of repressions, we continue to record police torture against citizens. “The Government has a cynical and irresponsible attitude. In addition to the fact that those arrested are beaten, tortured, subjected to an inhuman and degrading treatment, the police demand money from the arrested people for the detention period, while Moldovan officials assured that the victims of repressions were not injured but painted. So far, the Government turned down applications by human rights NGOs, local authorities concerning police commissariats and prisons from Moldova which ill-treat the inmates.”

The Anti-Torture “Act Moldova” Alliance was created in Moldova. It was created by an initiative group made of human rights NGOs. The announcement was made within a roundtable themed “Democracy imperilled: to which extent the human rights are respected in Moldova” held by Moldovan human rights organisations Promo Lex, CReDO, Amnesty International Moldova and Institute for Human Rights. Promo Lex chairman Ion Manole said that the alliance welcomes all willing to join it. “The purpose of the Alliance is to assist the torture victims, to prevent such cases and inform the society,” Manole stated. Within the roundtable, NGOs were very concerned about the fact that many people held after the April 6–7 protests are ill-treated and tortured at Moldovan commissariats. (Source: Deca-press)

The US Department of State has expressed concern about developments in Moldova after the parliamentary elections. The US authorities are troubled by reports that youths and journalists have been intimidated. President Voronin’s announcement of an amnesty for all those detained during the April 7 protests is an encouraging step, the Department of State said. “All parties need to conduct themselves responsibly, while the Chisinau government must act in accordance with Moldovan law and its international commitments when dealing with the opposition, protesters and the media,” the Department of State recommended. Washington believes that “there is no excuse for violence, such as took place on April 7,” and reconfirms that the United States remains committed to working closely with Moldova, as the country continues down the path of European integration. (Source: Deca-press)

The Unites States Ambassador in Chisinau, Asif Chaudhry, received a group of journalists and civil society representatives on April 17, who spoke about the evolution of events in Moldova and expressed deep concern about torture and violation of human rights committed by authorities. (Source: jurnal.md)

“It is very important that all those responsible both for the acts of violence on April 7 and 8 and for the violence committed in detention facilities be investigated and punished.” Jean-Louis Laurens, director-general of the Directorate-General of Democracy and Political Affairs of the Council of Europe (CoE), has delivered this statement to Radio Free Europe. Mr. Laurens stated that it is also important “to make sure that the people who are in custody or detention receive an appropriate treatment, so that not to be subjected to violence, acts interpreted by some even as torture.” Laurens emphasised that after discussing with diverse persons he understood the commitment to restore the democratic situation and respect for human rights in Moldova, but law enforcement bodies and the judiciary “still have to work hard, so that this country to respect the commitments it has assumed when it joined the Council of Europe.” The CoE is ready to provide all necessary assistance for redressing the human rights situation, Laurens added. (Sursa: europalibera.org)

The Liberal Party (PL) condemns the recent repressive actions by the communist governance, which led to the death of three people, at least five persons went missing, and hundreds of innocent youths were detained, ill-treated and tortured cruelly, according to a statement by PL. The party notes that despite statements by outgoing President Vladimir Voronin regarding the amnesty and end of violence, the police and SIS keep holding young people, repressing human rights and fundamental freedoms, violating democratic values and the rule of law. “Under the cover of statements on stability and social consensus, the communist governance is trying to hide own crimes and absolve of any responsibility the true doers, those who ordered the acts of vandalism, repressions, as well as the direct executors of these orders,” reads the statement. (Source: PL statement)

The Helsinki Committee asks the Prosecutor-General’s Office to punish Interior Minister Gheorghe Papuc under criminal charges and seeks his unconditional relief from this office, following the April 7, 2009 violent protests in Chisinau, in which tens of people were injured and two state buildings, of the Parliament and Presidency were destroyed. According to the committee, Papuc shall be relieved from this office because he knew very well what would happen on April 7 but did not take any action to ensure the public order and prevent the storming on the two state buildings. (Source: jurnal.md)