CEC chair arrested in Transnistria, released hours later

Central Election Commission (CEC) chairman Eugeniu Stirbu was arrested Monday, June 21, at the Kuchurgan customs checkpoint located in the Transnistrian region. Taken to Tiraspol, Stirbu learned that the separatist authorities had initiated criminal proceedings against him in 2007 for organizing elections in the much-disputed village of Corjova. Later that day Stirbu was released, Info-Prim Neo reports. The release was possible due to the intervention of Ambassador Philip Remler, the head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Stirbu told a press briefing on Monday evening. Stirbu was arrested as he was crossing the Kuchurgan checkpoint on his way from Odessa to Chisinau. The CEC chairman was returning home from the Odessa airport, after a flight to Poland, where he had observed the presidential poll. In Tiraspol, Eugeniu Stirbu, who underwent a cardiac surgery a few years ago, found out about a set of criminal proceedings against him that had been initiated in 2007 and which, according to him, “smelled like heavy years in prison”. The CEC chairman recounted that three years ago he had engaged actively in making elections possible in the village of Corjova, which is under Moldovan jurisdiction but claimed by the Tiraspol authorities. Attending the briefing, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Victor Osipov said it was the first time the Transnistrian authorities reacted so swiftly and settled the situation. Osipov thanked the foreign partners for their assistance. “The freedom of people in the region must be guaranteed and it is absolutely unjustified to create impediments. It is the first time that the Transnistrian structures displayed promptitude, with the OSCE's intervention. Solutions should be appreciated and encouraged”, said Osipov, hoping to see concrete solutions in other cases as well. Osipov added that on both sides of the Nistru there are numerous criminal proceedings initiated against officials, who should thus avoid transiting the Transnistrian region. The deputy premier stated the issue of the criminal proceedings should be settled and negotiations should continue until the definitive resolution of the conflict.