A group of activists on December 28 mounted a protest in front of the Prosecutor General’s Office, chanting “Stop harassing human rights activists!”, “Respect the peaceful protests!” and other slogans. The protesters said that this way they wanted to make common case with other activists, journalists and lawyers against whom prosecutors took legal action in an attempt to intimidate them, IPN reports.
Members of the Hyde Park Association, who organized the protest, said that in 2015 the pressure exerted by the prosecutors was felt best by the conviction of civic activist Anatol Matasaru and actor Sergiu Voloc and by the fining and harassment of journalists Oleg and Ghenadie Brega, activist Domnica Cemortan and lawyer Vitalie Taulean.
Oleg Brega said he considers that the prosecution service is used as an instrument for taking revenge on inconvenient journalists and civic activists. He noted he risks being arrested for mounting a peaceful protest in Comrat and for attempting to enter a court of law, while his brother Ghenadie was fined for a number of features he produced. “We consider the regime is trying to intimidate us, as during the rule of Voronin. We thus decided to make common cause with Anatol Matasaru, who was put on probation, with Sergiu Voloc, who was also put on probation, and with Domnica Cemortan, who only today got rid of a fine, but is yet investigated within several administrative cases and risks having a criminal case started against her,” stated Oleg Brega.
The activists noted that the freedom of expression is a fundamental right and there should be neither fines, nor convictions for it, while those who violate this right should be held accountable. The protesters also chanted “We do not want a political prosecution service!”, “We do not want criminal cases started by order!”, “Criminals, you forgot about the people!” and “Factory of criminal cases!”.
According to the protest organizers, Sergiu Voloc was given four years’ probation for staging a protest. Anatol Matasaru was put on probation for two years for the same reason, while Oleg Brega was imposed a number of fines and could be arrested for filming and protesting. Vitalie Taulean is investigated for doing his job, Domnica Cemortan was fined for protesting, while Ghenadie Brega was fined for several of the features he made.
