Victims of torture can benefit from primary legal and psychological assistance, as well as rehabilitation, at three centers opened under the project "Together we say NO to torture in Moldova: civil society against torture". The project is funded by the European Union. For almost two years, the specialists of the centers, opened in Chisinau, Comrat and Tiraspol, have been assisting those who need help.
The head of the Institute for Democracy, Andrei Borsevski, project director, has mentioned at an IPN press conference that torture and cruel treatment are still used in the Republic of Moldova, and according to international reports, in detention and psychiatric institutions this phenomenon is frequently encountered. And most cases of torture in psychiatric institutions are not properly examined and solved.
The project is implemented by the Comrat Institute for Democracy, in partnership with the Media Center in Tiraspol and the National Institute for Women in Chisinau. According to Andrei Borșevski, one of the project tasks is to promote public awareness of the inadmissibility of torture. Another task is to promote the implementation of the provisions of international acts on the prohibition of torture and the recommendations of the UN Committee against Torture for the Republic of Moldova.
Present at the conference, the Representative of the National Institute for Women, Nonna Mihalcean, project coordinator in Chisinau, says that the relatives of the detained persons or patients of the psychiatric institutions appeal to the center for aid. In one case, assistance was needed for young people from the LGBT community, who were humiliated, insulted and abused verbally and psychologically by the police. They were assisted by specialists in writing the complaints, including to the CAN, because the police allegedly asked for bribes. The case is currently being investigated by prosecutors. In another case, a man called the center to complain that, under the police pressure, he signed false statements. The case is also being examined by the prosecution.
"If you personally have been through this or perhaps know someone who has undergone such an ordeal, or torture, try to call things by their true name. Speak out," Nonna Mihalcean urged.
Varvara Solomitski, a lawyer at the Transnistrian assistance center, said that this year a woman appealed for help, whose son was in prison. The woman became worried when she saw her son visibly weakened and in pain, without medical care. Currently, the documents for filing a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights are being prepared. In another case, the mother of a convict complained that her son was being held in inhumane conditions, in a small space, with high humidity and mold.
The three centers of legal, psychological and rehabilitation assistance for victims of torture are operating in Chisinau, on Bucharest street, 71, in Comrat on Tretiecova street, 21/3 and in Tiraspol on Șevcenco street, 12/12.