Lawyers, together with psychologists, came together for a roundtable meeting to discuss aspects of the psychological-legal evaluation of victims of torture in Moldova. The event was organized by the Institute for Penal Reforms with financial support from the European Union, IPN reports.

The notion of psychological assessment is not contained in the penal procedural legislation. It forms part of the legal examination. The data obtained by psychological tests are those that show the existence or inexistence of offence and guiltiness.

The lawyers who attended the roundtable meeting said the psychological assessments are often regarded skeptically because there are no methodologies that would be recognized by courts of law. Furthermore, it is considered that these do not have a great influence on the judicial process. “Therefore, Moldova faces problems related to the carrying out of psychological assessments. Our legislation provides that a psychological test can be done only within a state institution. There are not many accredited psychologists who would do these tests. There is only one such psychologist, but his assessments are not accepted by courts because he does not work at a state institution,” said expert of the Institute for Penal Reform Igor Dolea.

Psychologists say the mental trauma of a person who was subject to torture becomes evident in several years. “I established that there is no cooperation between the judicial institutions and psychologists. Hence, a consensus cannot be reached. The psychologists cannot take decisions independently from jurists in this regard as these can be rejected,” said psychologist Ina Moraru.