Statements by President Voronin on a potential non-compliance with ECHR’s ruling are a preliminary declaration of war against the Court, PSL leader says

The recent statements by President Vladimir Voronin on a potential non-compliance with a judgement of the European Court of Human Rights may be regarded as an open assault on the Court, ahead of the announcement of judgements in certain sensitive cases against Moldova, says Oleg Serebrian, the leader of the Social Liberal Party (PSL). Serebrian told a news conference today that both the President and the ruling party are affected not just by the judgment ordering the registration of the Bessarabian Metropolitan Church, but also by the recent series of failures that the Moldovan Government has experienced at the European Court of Human Rights. “The ECHR will soon hear very serious cases against Moldova, where the fines will be far higher than 10,000 euros”, said Oleg Serebrian, bringing the example of the company MegaDatCom where the sum to be awarded for damages is expected to top 1 million euros. The statements of the head of state are tarnishing the image of Moldova and are lowering the chances for Moldova’s successful European integration, stated the PSL leader, adding that Voronin’s declarations may be regarded as an intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights, which would arouse strong reactions from the Council of Europe. In Serebrian’s opinion, the leadership has probably realised the impact of those statements and is now trying to hush up the matter, and the proof is that the whole passage concerning the Court was removed when the President’s speech was rerun on the national television channel. President Vladimir Voronin stated on Friday, November 30, during a TV show that he doesn’t want “a second Kosovo in Moldova”, with reference to the recent disputes between the Romanian Patriarchate and the Russian Church concerning the setting up of three Romanian dioceses in the Republic of Moldova. “If these events are not discontinued, we will reserve ourselves the right to disobey the ECHR’s ruling (to register the Bessarabian Metropolitan Church – editor’s note)”, said Voronin, adding that he was making an official statement as a head of state.