The Ombudsperson’s Office has requested the National Prisons Administration to ensure that the convicted businessman Veaceslav Platon has his rights re-established without delay.
In its formal request, the Office said Platon’s rights were seriously violated after he had been unable to meet with his lawyers for almost a month and hadn’t received adequate medical care.
The Office quotes Ombudswoman Maia Bănărescu as saying that “the latest developments in Platon’s case reflect a dramatic degradation of the legal institution of defense in Moldova” , which is “extremely dangerous for the protection of human rights and freedoms and consolidation of the rule of law” in our country.
Ombudswoman Bănărescu says all excuses of logistical or financial nature put forward by the relevant authorities are unacceptable when human rights and dignity are affected. Per European standards, the Ombudswoman notes, lawyers must at all times have access to their clients, especially to those in custody.
The Ombudswoman has also demanded an internal probe to check the actions or inactions of officers at Prison no.13 that led to the serious violation of Platon’s rights as well as disciplinary punishments for those responsible. In addition, the Prosecutor General’s Office will be petitioned to start criminal proceedings.
