Moldovan inmates can appeal to a new institution

Persons detained in penitentiary institutions in the R. of Moldova can appeal to the Committee for Complaints in case they incur problems with the penitentiaries’ administration, chairman of the Committee, Paul Strutzescu told a press conference on Wednesday, November 22. According to the cited source, more than 200 complaints have been received by the Committee till present, of which about 80% do not match the competence of this institution. Strutzescu declared that, at the moment, the Committee works on analyzing the complaints in terms established by the legislation, and fortifying the technical-material basis. The institution also examines the possibility of making sudden visits and inspections in penitentiaries, a fact which would lead to protecting the rights of the detained persons and, on the other hand will increase the qualification of the Penitentiary Institution Department staff as well as the protection of their work, the expert asserts. The Committee is comprised of 5 members, a representative of the Higher Magistrate Council, 3 – of the Government, and one representing the civil society. The members of the committee act on nongovernmental basis, except for the secretariat, the activity of which is supported by the OSCE Mission to Moldova. Ombudsman Ivan Cucu told the conference that the main rights of the detainees are those related to their feeding and rooming. At the moment, about 10,000 persons are detained in 18 penitentiaries from the R. of Moldova.