The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg has criticized the ill-treatment and police brutality in Moldova and the pressure exerted on the mass media and NGOs that reported allegations of human rights violations after the April 7 events. The findings are contained in a report on his visit to Moldova published on July 17, Info-Prim Neo reports. “There needs to be a prompt follow-up to the human rights violations, in particular the numerous instances of ill-treatment by the police. It is clear that there is a need to review not only the behaviour of individual police officers, but also the responsibility of their superiors” says Commissioner Hammarberg. The CE Commissioner also says that full clarity must be established on this breakdown of professionalism and respect for basic standards and voices hope that the resolve expressed by the Moldovan authorities to overcome this problem and ensure accountability will be followed by concrete, resolute and sustained action. “Decisive action should be taken to enforce a firm attitude of ‘zero tolerance’ of ill-treatment throughout the criminal justice system. The violations of the prohibition against ill-treatment, which surfaced so acutely after the post-electoral demonstrations of April 6-7, must be tackled head-on to restore a climate of confidence.” Furthermore, Commissioner Hammarberg stresses that “prosecutors, judges, senior police officers and lawyers should be attentive to allegations or signs of possible ill-treatment, and there needs to be proper screening, recording and reporting of injuries in police detention facilities.” The Commissioner finds that pressure put upon media and non-governmental organisations involved in reporting on allegations of human rights violations is unacceptable. “Free expression and information should be protected, including in times of crisis. At the same time, media professionals should make a special effort to adhere to professional and ethical standards.” Finally, Commissioner Hammarberg recommends that thorough, comprehensive, independent, impartial, transparent and credible inquiries be carried out into the events.