Victims of April protests still need psychological assistance
Two years after the April 7, 2009 protests, the young people who were maltreated and humiliated in police stations continue to be disoriented and cannot overcome the state of shock, Ludmila Popovici, head of the Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims “Memoria”, has told Info-Prim Neo.
About 100 victims of those events still visit the Center. “The persons suffer from belated consequences of the problems they encountered. They thought they will cope themselves, but do not manage to without specialized assistance. Some of these persons suffer from the avoidance syndrome. They avoid going to places where they can meet police officers,” said Ludmila Popovici.
Besides phobias, the young persons experience severe depression and want to take revenge. They are in a state of tension and face troubles in the family. Some of them were unable to continue their studies or were dismissed. The persons who go to the Center “Memoria” complain about insomnia and nightmares. They become more nervous after they meet the police officers who maltreated them at hearings.
Members of the families of the victims also seek help from the Center “Memoria”. They also need psychological assistance. But there are persons who live far from Chisinau and cannot attend the Center, said Ludmila Popovici.
According to the Chisinau City Hall, about 300 young persons were beaten on the street and in police stations in April 2009.