The European Court of Human Rights (CEDO) has notified the governments of the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation of two cases of serious violations of fundamental rights in the Transnistrian region. The cases are the Ahmetșin and Dutca cases, IPN reports.

The Promo-LEX association, which is representing the plaintiffs at the ECHR, says that the high court found degrading treatment and restrictions on fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and freedom of movement.

Rausan Ahmetsin, aged 42, was detained on March 13, 2015, directly from the courtroom of the so-called "substantive court" in the Transnistrian region, on the basis of a conviction for embezzlement. On April 28, 2015, the so-called "supreme court of justice" on the left bank of the Dniester River sentenced him to three and a half years in prison.

Another case concerns a young photographer and activist, who was prevented from organizing a photographic exhibition as part of her social project "No Silence". The project illustrated the difficulties faced by the LGBTI community in the Transnistrian region. Following an announcement on social media about the opening of the exhibition, the young woman was summoned on October 31, 2016 by the university administration and interrogated by an alleged "KGB" agent. Under his pressure and threats against her and her family, she was forced to cancel the event.

CEDO has asked for explanations from the defendant states.

Promo-LEX states that the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation, as parties to the European Convention on Human Rights, have an obligation to respect and guarantee the fundamental rights of persons under their jurisdiction, including in the Transnistrian region.