A group of Transnistrian war veterans are asking for Arslan Safarmatov’s release, arguing he is a political prisoner. The veterans told a press conference that Safarmatov “was convicted by Plahotniuc’s regime on political grounds” because he had actively supported the protests organized by the Dignity and Truth party.
Alexandru Blanari, president of the “Justețe” Veterans’ Association, says that Arslan Safarmatov participated in the Independence War fighting in the Special Forces “Fulger” Battalion and got disabled after being wounded in action. According to Alexandru Banari, Safarmatov was arrested because of a conflict caused by the private security firm “Argus”, affiliated with the former leader of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc.
The conflict originated in November 2015, when Safarmatov got into an argument with Argus security guards as they prevented him from entering the premises of an enterprise. According to the subsequent police report, Safarmatov fired his legally held pistol into the air as a form of threat, but Banari claims that it was the security guards who actually fired first. Eventually, in December 2018, Safarmatov was sentenced to three years in prison on aggravated hooliganism charges. Safarmatov has appealed.
Andrei Irimia, another war veteran, said that Arslan Safarmatov attended many protests against the regime along with veterans, and “everyone knows that Argus is a paramilitary entity that belongs to Vlad Plahotniuc.” According to him, “the security firm was used as a threatening tool.” The veteran also said the law enforcement has to verify the firm’s affairs.
Sergiu Tataru, vice president of the Tiras-Tighina Veterans’ Association, said that Arslan
Safarmatov is a man who served his country well and now is in detention for just trying to stand up against an insult. “We want to tell our justice system that it must right a wrong and free an unlawfully imprisoned man, a veteran who spilled his blood to defend our country,” said Sergiu Tataru.
Veteran Vitalie Gâlcă said that Arslan Safarmatov is detained in the Lipcani penitentiary. Vitalie Gâlcă urged the authorities to intervene so as to release the veteran and revisit his “framed-up” case.
