CoE seriously concerned about Ilie Cazac's fate

The Council of Europe (CoE) is seriously concerned about the fate of Ilie Cazac, who was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment on treason charges by the Tiraspol authorities. CoE Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland is noting in a press release that this case has similarities with with the case of journalist Ernest Vardanyan, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The Council of Europe has been closely monitoring Mr Cazac's case since his arrest in Tiraspol in March last year, and will continue to do so, especially given the dubious nature of the charges levelled against him”, said Thorbjorn Jagland. The European official is urging the Tiraspol authorities “to ensure full respect for Mr Cazac's and Mr Vardanyan's fundamental human and legal rights”. Ilie Cazac, formerly a tax inspector in Bender, was arrested on 19 March 2010 and sentenced earlier this month to 14 years' imprisonment. Last summer the separatist Tiraspol authorities published a written statement of Ilie Cazac, where he allegedly confessed to spying for Moldova. Journalist Ernest Vardanyan was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment on similar charges.