During the crisis, the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region has worsened and the negative consequences will worsen a number of problems that have been ignored during many years. Three arrangements of the Berlin Plus package, concerning the freedom of movement, functioning of Moldovan-administered Romanian language schools and the free access to the farmland situated beyond the Rybnitsa-Tiraspol road, were evidently violated, while a constructive dialogue for discussing and solving the country’s problems was absent, says a report presented by the Promo-LEX Association on June 5.
In the presentation, Promo-LEX lawyer Pavel Cazacu said the report refers to the situation in the whole Transnistrian region during the last three months and the monitoring was difficult. There were tested the level of cooperation and openness between the administrations of the two banks of the Nistru and the real level of confidence, which is vital for a negotiation process. In the crisis situation, it was clearly noticed that the direction and evolution of the negotiation process are wrong and without prospects.
Despite the recommendations formulated by international organizations, on the pretext of the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Transnistrian region’s administration adopted unjustified measures contrary to the principle of preeminence of the basic human rights and freedoms. The blocking of the administrative border and the placing of new posts and barriers in the Security Zone caused the unjustified restriction of the freedom of movement.
The blocking of the administrative border led to the overcrowding of the ferryboat that during the pandemic remained the only way of access to the right bank for the inhabitants of the Moldovan-administered villages Molovata Nouă and Cocieri. During two days, owing to the low level of water in the river, the ferryboat could not be used and the villages remained fully isolated.
The administration of the Transnistrian region, despite the earlier made commitments and contrary to the international human rights standards, suspended the simplified regime of crossing through checkpoints for officials and public servants of Moldova without a preliminary written notice. Restrictions were also imposed on students and teachers and access to the land owned by farmers from Dubăsari district was limited.
The report also shows that the attacks on the freedom of expression, the decisions contrary to the personal data protection principles, abusive deprivation of liberty in the period only confirmed the previous findings as to the Transnistrian administration’s inability to prevent human rights violations. The Transnistrian authorities for multiple times refused to take part in the meetings of thematic working groups, for human rights and health, which are so necessary in the crisis periods.
