The authorities in Chisinau requested the World Health Organization to send a technical mission to the Transnistrian region that is part of the Republic of Moldova, but where the constitutional authorities cannot guarantee the observance of human rights, including the population’s access to medical services, IPN has learned from the Government’s press service.

The request was made after the OSCE informed about the absence of plans for convoking the meeting asked by Chisinau, where to examine the situation related to COVID-19 and aspects of the health situation in the region.

This way, the Reintegration Policies Bureau has to make use of alternative instruments to inform itself about the real effects of the pandemic crisis and the observance of the human rights in terms of health in the Transnistrian region. Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Cristina Lesnic said the priority agenda during the state of emergency envisions the identification of a balance in the health system and the observance of human rights in the Republic of Moldova, which includes the state of health of the population of the Transnistrian region.

“We ascertain with regret that the self-isolation of the Transnistrian region and hampering of the free movement, in correlation with the access to medical assistance for Moldovans who are medically insured by the Republic of Moldova, and the correctness of local data seriously affect the human rights and the management of risks during the pandemic,” stated Cristina Lesnic.

There are about 320,000 Moldovans citizens living on the right side of the Nistru River. According to the updated data of the Ministry of Health, 400 cases of infection with COVID-19 have been recorded in the region.