Amnesty International: Moldova fails to ensure justice for victims
Moldova entered again in the Amnesty International annual report as a country that fails to avert police abuse and ensure justice for victims. The new report presents the inhuman treatment of some people in Moldova, the system being described as having strong influences from the former Soviet Union.
„Reports continued of prison conditions amounting to inhuman and degrading treatment; impunity for torture and other ill-treatment; and unfair trials. Religious and other minorities faced discrimination, in the absence of legislation to prevent it,” the Amnesty International report shows.
The document presents the case of Vasilii Cristioglo who was arrested in Comrat in January 2011 and was charged with burglary. He has been held in pre-trial detention from January 21 until the end of the year. The investigation shows the harsh conditions Mr. Cristioglo had to live in prison and the degrading and inhuman treatment he was exposed to.
„The cell had a toilet in full view of the other detainees, and no bedding was provided. Vasilii Cristioglo was forced to pay for blood tests when he suspected that he may have contracted hepatitis. During transfer to and from the court, Vasilii Cristioglo and other detainees were held in railway wagons for hours at a time over the summer in high temperatures, and not given any food or water during the day. In response to a complaint from his lawyer, the Cahul prosecutor admitted that hygiene regulations were ignored; there were no provisions for refrigeration and preparation of food, nor any facilities for washing dishes or for personal hygiene,” Amnesty International report says.
Another case presented by the organization refers to Anatol Matasaru who was beaten up by two policemen during the events of April 2009. The reports show the man was beaten by policemen at the General Police Station in Chisinau and „forced to lick their boots”, Amnesty International says.
The case of Ernest Vardanean surrounded Europe in 2010 after he was illegally detained by the so-called Transnistrian authorities for „espionage in favor of Chisinau.” After staying in prison for a period, he was pardoned by the so-called president of Transnistria.
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