Constitutional Court rejects ombudswoman Tamara Plamadeala's challenge on Palanca

Ombudswoman Tamara Plamadeala is ready to appeal to the Court of Appeals as the Constitutional Court rejected her challenge on the ceding of 18 hectares of land located near Palanca village to Ukraine, Info-Prim Neo reports. “My application was rejected groundlessly and subjectively. They do not realize that the human rights are being violated,” Tamara Plamadeala told a news conference on March 24. According to the ombudswoman, the Constitution of Moldova says that no part of Moldova can be conceded. The residents of Palanca sustain pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages. To be allowed to cross the street to cultivate their land they must have the passport and permit issued by the Border Guard Service on them. Even so, they can go there only from 8 A.M. to 5 M.P. “The Constitutional Court argued that only the Parliament can abrogate international treaties. Its decision contained no argument concerning the people's constitutional rights on which the challenge focused,” Tamara Plamadeala said. She also said that she is determined to take all the necessary steps to defend Palanca inhabitants' rights to free movement and property. In an agreement ratified by the Parliament in 2001, Chisinau pledged to transfer 7.7 kilometers of the Odessa – Reni road and the land located near Palanca to Kiev. Instead, Ukraine gave Moldova 450 meters of its territory, allowing it to have access to the Danube.