HCHRM claims a series of infringements at the referendum on independence in Transnistria
The representatives of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova (HCHRM) found out several infringements at the referendum which was organized on Sunday, September 17 in the raions from the left side of Nistru.
According to a press release of HCHRM, the mobile team of local observers of HCHRM and those who managed to reach the event told that the activity of the voters is significantly poorer than during the local elections.
Groups of “activists” were going to people’s homes, especially in Tiraspol and Bender, asking theme why they did not come to the referendum and threatening them that after the referendum they will be forced to find a home in Romania. At some voting sections, agents dressed in civil or militia uniforms were forcing the observers from outside the sections to stay at a distance of 200-250 meters far from these places. Inside the voting sections militia representatives were patrolling together with the so-called “mgb” from Tiraspol which, according to the words of the members of electoral commission, decided everything, including the percentage of voters that participated in elections.
According to an important official of mgb, who works very close to the groups of “political technologists” from the Russian Federation, the results of the referendum were well known since Saturday, and on Sunday some insignificant modifications were planned. According to him, in the localities where many “foreign observers” come (Tiraspol, Bender, Rabnita) a lower rate of participation will be presented, but a higher one in favor of Transnitria’s adhering to the Russian Federation. In the raions where the majority of people speak Romanian, a higher attendance will be presented, leaving 5-6% of votes for the unification with Moldova. The lists of voters were “cleaned”, excluding some citizens who previously boycotted such electoral farces, even if they were born and always lived in the localities from the left side of Nistru.
The voters had to answer to 2 questions: “do you support Transnistria’s independence, with the subsequent unification with Russia” and “Do you consider possible renouncing to the independence of Transnistria and including it in the composition of the Republic of Moldova”. According to the results of an exit-poll, about 95% of persons voted in favor of Transnistria’s independence and unification with Russia.