450 copies of a review named “Credinta Noastra” (Our Faith), published by a Romanian student, remain confiscated at the Sculeni border checkpoint. The copies were sequestered by customs officers last week when the author, Vlad Parau, crossed the Moldovan-Romania frontier to join the manifestations occasioned by the anniversary of the union between Basarabia and Romania, Info-Prim Neo reports. Vlad Parau told a news conference on Tuesday, March 25, he came to Chisinau to his relatives, but also to participate in the events organized on the occasion of the anniversary of the Union Day. His baggage consisted of two boxes with Xerox-copies of his review. In the edition in question the high school student inserted information and opinions on the unification, as well as quotations from the writers Mihai Eminescu, Vasile Alecsandri and Andrei Muresanu. Last Saturday, at the Sculeni border point, the student was made to get off the bus to provide explanations. A customs employee, who refused to identify himself, but was sitting in an office with the inscription “Economic Transactions Sector Head”, showed himself visibly disturbed at the review’s contents and told him he could not take with him but several copies, Vlad Parau confesses. He could leave for Chisinau only after signing a declaration he didn’t have documents on the provenience of the goods (the review), but he had the papers at home in Brasov. “Under the influence of the stress and shock I gave in and wrote the declaration,” the student says, mentioning he reached Chisinau after a sleepless night and without magazines. The young man says he published the review on money from donations. It took him USD100 to have it Xeroxed. The student asks to be returned the confiscated copies and announces he’ll protest because his rights were violated, he was humiliated for expressing his opinions freely by printing the magazine. The International Civic Association “Hyde Park” has committed to represent the student’s interests upon his return to Romania. Other two non-governmental organizations – the Human Rights Institute and Transparency International promised to provide their support in this case, the Hyde Park representative, Oleg Brega, has said. According to the non-governmental activist, the case of the Brasov student is not unique. In Chisinau it often happens to be picked up right on the street by police not identifying themselves. Recently, at an authorized action, the Hyde Park president, Ghenadie Brega, was detained for distributing leaflets announcing the 27 March event, organized by the Sfatul Tarii initiative group. He was made to get onto a personal car and taken to the Buiucani district police office, being set free only an hour later when the manifestation had already ended. Oleg Brega says he has asked for damages of 1 million lei in court from the Interior Ministry for being illegally arrested 7 times.