In the Republic of Moldova, the persons in the detention system are still subject to inhuman and degrading treatment. It happens most often to persons with mental health problems. The recent cases that were made public confirm that problems exist in the system. The conclusions were formulated in an event staged by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in partnership with Promo-LEX Association in connection with the reviewing of Moldova by the UN Committee against Torture in Geneva, IPN reports.
Veaceslav Balan, National Coordinator of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Moldova, said there are enough problems in the penitentiary system, but there are also positive things there, such as the approval of the common order to identify and report cases of torture by the Prosecutor General’s Office and a number of ministries. Under the order, the representatives of these institutions are obliged to report any suspicion of use of torture to the specialized service of the PGO. Another positive thing is the constitution of a new national torture prevention mechanism at the end of 2016.
As to the problematic aspects, these are confirmed by the recent cases, such as that of Andrei Braguta, who died after he was beaten by other detainees, and the case of a young woman who died in Penitentiary No. 16 allegedly because of an incorrect medical diagnosis. “The case of Andrei Braguta showed that practically none of those involved in the examination of this case knew how to interact with Mister Braguta. Decisions were taken that ultimately led to his death. It means that the system wasn’t ready to deal with such a case,” stated Veaceslav Balan.
Dumitru Sliusarenko, lawyer of Promo-LEX, said the authors of the dozens of complaints that are monthly submitted to the Association say they are ill-treated by other detainees, by guardians and even by the administration of the penitentiary or the remand prison. They invoke inhuman detention conditions, lack of ventilation and heat or even of medical assistance. A mechanism of cooperation between the authorities should be created because the representatives of penitentiary institutions or remand prisons do not have duties to diagnose, but should be trained to identify symptoms and seek help from competent authorities, like the emergency medical service or psychiatrists, so that a decision concerning the person with mental health problems could be later taken.
The lawyer noted that they are now examining a case that happened in Penitentiary No. 13, where a person diagnosed with schizophrenia was subject to inhuman treatment. The man was raped when he was placed in a cell with aggressive detainees and is now in a psychiatric institution.
Within the event, there was live-streamed the session during which Moldova was questioned about the implementation of the Convention against Torture.
