Sexual minorities say they are ignored by law enforcement bodies

The persons of untraditional sexual orientation are often attacked, but the law enforcement bodies do not take the necessary protection measures, program coordinator of the Information Center “Genderdoc-M” Angela Frolov said in a news conference held at Info-Prim Neo on February 21. According to Angela Frolov, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of the Interior did not appropriately react to the appeals made by “Genderdoc-M” as regards the offences based on hatred and discrimination against persons forming part of sexual minorities. “We received only evasive answers from the law enforcement bodies. Measures to punish the persons who instigate hatred and violence were never taken. We sent an open letter to the Prosecutor General’s Office, whereby we asked starting a legal case on this case, but the institution said there are no reasons for taking such a step,” said Angela Frolov. She also said that all the crimes related to hatred are closely connected to the freedom of expression. That’s why they will sue the persons who will incite the people to such offenses. In the same connection, lawyer and human rights expert Doina Ioana Straisteanu said that the problem resides in the fact that the Penal Code does not envision criminal punishment for death threats or threats to instigate hatred, but the authorities do not take attitude. “It is illegal to go out and incite to violence. The law enforcement bodies ignore such threats and do not take them seriously. But we will insist and use all the legal methods to make the authorities react in a serious way when such threats are made,” said Doina Ioana Straisteanu. According to the lawyer, for the first time a person who attacked a homosexual was recently punished. The man hit the victim, stole his money and the mobile phone and left him unconscious outside, only in underwear. A couple passing nearby helped him and called an ambulance. The man said he wanted to teach the homosexual a lesson. The court found him guilty and fined him 10,000 lei, sentencing him to five years in jail.