The former Transnistrian leader Yevgheny Shevchuk can be held accountable for committing at least three offenses, consider experts of Promo-LEX Association. In an analysis, these say that Shevchuk could be investigated for the usurpation of state power, for the organization of an illegal paramilitary force or taking part in this and for intentional acts to incite hatred, difference or national, ethnic, racial or religious division, IPN reports.
According to Promo-LEX, there are suspicions that Yevgheny Shevchuk usurped the state power when he held the post of deputy of the supreme soviet of Transnistria and president of the Transnistrian administration. Contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, this played an important role in strengthening and maintaining the de-facto bodies, in virtue of the powers of “president” of the unrecognized republic. He also carried out state duties in his own name, affecting the social relations and national sovereignty, which belongs exclusively to the people of the Republic of Moldova. Moreover, it is not clear if Shevchuk and his wife Nina Shtanski hold Moldovan nationality as this fact would clarify particular aspects of the situation.
The analysis says that while Yevgheny Shevchuk held the post of so-called president, he took a number of steps that encroached upon the rights and interests of persons in a number of cases. “Following his actions and the actions of his administration, the inhabitants of a number of villages situated on the left side of the Nistru do not have access to about 6,300 ha of farmland in Dubasari district, which they own. As a result, these annually sustain significant losses, while the Government of Moldova has to yearly allocate over 10 million lei from its reserve fund for paying compensations,” reads the study.
According to the experts of Promo-LEX, even if the harassment and persecution of persons who associate themselves with Moldovan-administered, Romanian-language schools in Transnistrian has continued since 2004, starting with 2014, on the instruction of Yevgheny Shevchuk, new impediments were created to these institutions. On the instruction of Nina Shanski and Shevchuk, the banking accounts of the education institutions were closed, militiamen were sent to these and the director of Lucian Blaga Lyceum was illegally arrested. The salaries of teachers were delayed, while the institution’s car, telephones and stamp were confiscated.
Also, Yevgheny Shevchuk managed the military units that are paramilitary forces in accordance with Moldova’s legislation and strengthened these and also took part in military events in the region. In March 2015, on the initiative of Yevgheny Shevchuk, a special sports-military unit was created as part of the Transnistrian “army”.
After 1993, the constitutional authorities took legal action against representatives of the Transnistrian authorities over usurpation of official state posts and other offenses, but these cases weren’t examined transparently and consistently and their fate is not known to the public. Those who could be investigated as suspects or questioned as witnesses move freely in the country and are not summoned for questioning.
In virtue of the international law principles, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Moldova is obliged to question Yevgheny Shevchuk and other leaders of the separatist administration and to collect evidence to determine if those involved should be brought to justice. If it is established that Shevchuk is the victim of the illegalities of the current de-facto administration, the Prosecutor’s Office should start a criminal case and protect this as a victim. This does not yet mean that Yevgheny Shevchuk could not be investigated in other criminal cases.
