Civic activist Vasile Sinigur, who on May 9 was arrested at the Memorial Complex “Eternity” while he was protesting against the Soviet regime, said he didn’t break the law as he just wanted to express his opinion by carrying a placard showing the Ribbon of Saint George was equal to the symbol of fascism and communism. Supported by the Association “UNIREA – ODIP”, the activist said he will go to court to seek justice and will challenge the fine imposed on him.
In a news conference at IPN, Vasile Sinigur said he was protesting peacefully when an individual pulled away the placard from his hands. When he tried to get it back, he was immobilized by a number of persons in civvies, who presented themselves as policemen, and by police officers. “They wanted to drag me down and squeezed my throat so that I was unable to breathe. I cried to leave me alone as I was suffocating, but the police officers didn’t stop. They handcuffed me – I still have signs on the hands – and took me to the police station,” stated the activist.
Vasile Sinigur said he was charged based on two articles of the Contravention Code – not very serious hooliganism and intentional disobedience of the order or legal request of the employee of law enforcement agencies. As a result, he was fined 1,000 lei and issued with a summons.
The leader of “UNIREA – ODIP” Vlad Biletski said the association decided to support Vasile Sinigur because the representatives of this organization went through similar moments during the protests mounted after the presidential elections. Then, the police acted similarly, but the activists ultimately won the case in court. Vasile Sinigur expressed his opinion peacefully and posed no public threat. “I see no need for an ordinary person with a simple banner to be taken by neck and legs and be pushed into a car. I really don’t think he alone was a threat to the thousands of people who were there. The same thing happened to us in similar situations,” stated Vlad Biletski.
He noted that a challenge will be filed to court on May 11. An applicant will be submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office with the request to check the legality of the actions of the ascertaining agent. Also, a complaint will be lodged to the Chisinau Police Division and to the Ministry of the Interior. To all the institutions, there will be presented video images of the incident where the faces of those who arrested the activist are seen. “I also call on Minister Jizdan to take notice of this case, to investigate it and to devote special attention to it as this case discredits them,” said Vlad Biletski.
According to him, by such actions they try to intimidate persons who struggle for a noble cause. The leader of “UNIREA – ODIP” expressed his conviction that they will win this case too.
