MEPs shocked by human rights violations in Moldova

The delegation of the European Parliament, who has been on a fact-finding visit to Moldova from April 26 to 29, has found grave violations of the human rights having occurring in Chisinau after the April 5 elections, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The mission was extremely difficult because we could not imagine how much violence occurred in Moldova,” said MEP Marianne Mikko at a news conference ending the visit. The deputation of European parliamentarians met with NGOs, ombudsmen, media, the leaders of those three opposition parties entering the parliament, representatives of the Government and of the Central Election Commission. The MEPs visited police stations and the notorious Penitentiary 13. They also met with the former president of the parliament Marian Lupu. President in office Vladimir Voronin found no time to meet with the European parliamentarians. “We have met over 80 victims arrested following the April 7 events, who were subjected to humiliating treatment, ill-treatment, illegal judicial proceedings,”said Marianne Mikko. The delegation reiterated its support for democracy in Moldova and condemned the violence, especially ill-treating citizens. “The horrible acts of violence occurring in the police stations, not granting legal and medical assistance to the people in police's custody cannot be tolerated,” Mikko said. Karin Resetarits from Austria said: “We have met so many people who told us practically the same words, the same scenarios that happened to them while in custody. I saw broken legs, arms, corporeal lesions, bruises. I even saw an eight-year-old child who was arrested. Those people told us they had been impelled to pass through a so-called 'death corridor', in which they were beastly beaten up by policemen, they fainted but were again beaten up and impelled to sign documents.” Karin Resetarits showed herself astonished there was no official reaction as to what happened. “There must be a response,” she said. In Penitentiary 13, the MEPs met businessman Gabriel Stati, protester Anatol Matasaru and a person held up on April 24. “All they told us they were not shown any evidence for being arrested. Instead, they were impelled to signed the charges brought against them. That was very shocking for us,” Resetarits said. “We found very clear violations of the human rights, without any doubt. In fact, the ombudsmen and the general prosecutor's office confirmed the existence of such cases. Legal proceedings have been started at least concerning one case,” said Romanian MEP Marian-Jean Marinescu. The European Delegation insists that representatives of the political opposition and European experts are also included into the commission probing the events after the vote. It urges the ruling party and the opposition to start to dialogue. The European parliamentarians continue to support Moldova's getting closer to the EU, through the frame of the Eastern Partnership. At the same time, the MEPs warned that deepening the relationships between Moldova and the EU is possible, only if the politicians and the whole society clearly commit to respect the human rights, the state of law and the democratic institutions. “We consider the events after the elections proved the European Union must be more demanding with the partner states in terms of respect for the human rights,” said Marie Anne Isler Beguin, a MEP from France. The deputation is going to present a report to the leadership of the European parliament and the European Parliament will pass a resolution on Moldova on May 7.