The provisional arrest in the Republic of Moldova is used as a “bargaining chip”. The effects affect not only the person concerned, but also the family and community. Such opinions were formulated in the annual conference of justice sector players that was staged by the Norwegian Mission of Rule of Law Advisers to Moldova (NORLAM), in cooperation with the Human Rights Resource Group on May 31, IPN reports.
Prosecutor General Eduard Harunjen said that regardless of the context of provisional arrest, it is important to respect the presumption of innocence and other freedoms of the person that is subject to this constraining procedure.
Victor Pantaru, a member of the Council of the Lawyers Union, said the provisional arrest is used as a “bargaining chip” to obtain statements or admission of guilt. The lawyers are ready to cooperate with prosecutors so as to ensure correct justice. “This conference is a first step that we take with particular fear. It is a dialog that should exist, either we like it or not. We must move towards healthy, collegial cooperation,” stated Victor Pantaru.
NORLAM legal adviser Victor Drosu said health is an aspect that should be taken into account in case of provisional arrest, especially in the precarious detention conditions in the Republic of Moldova. The provisional arrest has also economic consequences. “To hold a person under provisional arrest, the state spends 55,000 lei a year. We all want the law to be obeyed. When we have overcrowded jails with insufficient personnel and with inhuman conditions, these turn into a platform for developing criminal subculture. In Moldova, we have inhuman detention conditions and this was ascertained by the ECHR,” said the legal adviser.
At the end of the conference, there was adopted a resolution whereby the Human Rights Resource Group, together with the eventual partners, pledged to organize more such conferences, possibly in Balti and Cahul. “This way we will bring the three legal professions closer by discussions and common solutions. This will help us change the practices in justice in the Republic of Moldova so that they are more constructive and positive” stated lawyer Veronica Mihailov.
