Politics
American priest jailed in Moldova
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis is the story about the Orthodox Priest Johnattan Netanyahu who went, in search of God, to Moldova and ended up in a Communist prison.
By Dinu Popa
This is the story about the Orthodox Priest Johnattan Netanyahu who went, in search of God, to Moldova and ended up in a Communist prison.
Are all US citizens equally protected by the Constitution of the United States? Are they all equal? I was reading the news from my native Moldova today and I couldn’t believe what I found there. A fifty seven years old priest, American citizen, called Johnattan Jerusalayem Netanyahu, has been arrested on April 24th by the Moldovan police for the second time in a row after the anti-communist protests in Chisinau. Why? Because Moldovan Communists are trying to prove foreign involvement in the violent outburst on April 7th and they can’t find any evidence. So they are trying to find it using “creative” methods. Plain clothes police officers arrested him once, couldn’t find anything and released him, just so they can arrest him again using a legal loophole and hold him for another 30 days.
According to the hotnews.md web site (http://hotnews.md/?p=4790) Netanyahu was unfortunate to witness some violent acts in Chisinau after the rigged Parliamentary elections. He didn’t participate in the violence. He didn’t hit any police officers, from what hotnews.md said. He didn’t say anything or provoke anybody. He just stood there and watched. This is his “crime”, and the fact that he is a foreigner.
Netanyahu, whose name is Jewish, is a Christian Orthodox priest, a resident of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He may be an ethnic Jew, I don’t know, but he also has the Romanian citizenship and that is the key to this puzzle. Moldovan Communists are trying hard to prove that Romania provoked the riots, but the only thing that’s missing so far is a clear, documented proof. So they arrested this poor man and tried to beat a confession out of him. I’m not exaggerating, this is not just a common expression – the US citizen Johnatan Jerusalayem Netanyahu has been repeatedly intimidated, threatened, and beaten in detention by his interrogators. As he states in the short interview he offered before getting arrested again, he was interrogated a number of times by three men. One of them will beat him, another one will insult him, and the third one will ask questions. He hasn’t confessed anything except the obvious fact that he saw other people commit acts of violence. Who were those people? So far the only people who were identified by the media are Communist’s allies or members of the „popular guard”, a paramilitary organization created to attack the opposition supporters during the election campaign and disrupt their rallies. There were also some convicts, but they seem to somehow “magically” return to their prison cells during the next few days.
Attacks against the US interests in Moldova are not rare these days. The director of the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) office in Chisinau, Alex Grigorievs, was scheduled for deportation on April 14th. The president of Moldova and the Secretary General of the Party of Communists, police General Vladimir Voronin, said on TV to the Moldovan people that the director of the NDI was involved in planning the violence. In other words – the president of Moldova blamed the USA for the violence his own „popular guard” and allies committed.
I remember watching on CNN how US marines saved one American citizen from the Somali pirates. They could’ve left him to die, they could’ve said he is already dead, but they didn’t. The whole World learned that day from the news that the life of US citizens is important to the American Government. Why then is Johnatan Netanyahu in detention with no charges against him? Is his life less important than the lives of other Americans? Is he somehow guilty because he witnessed a protest in another country? The Moldovan authorities have no proof of his affiliation with the violent group and they are using legal tricks and loopholes to keep him separated from the media and his lawyer. Why wouldn’t US ambassador in Chisinau go to Vladimir Voronin, or to the Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu and demand to see the charges against that poor man?
I know that the US press is not particularly interested in the events in Moldova, and I understand why. Netanyahu’s name and picture are not being displayed on the TV screens every 10 minutes, but that’s not a reason to deny an American citizen his rights. Could CNN say something about this case? It could. But it’s too busy covering “cool” news. Could Fox news say something? It could. Actually Fox News has a better coverage of the events in Moldova. My point is that a 2-3 minutes report about this American priest could save his life. Again, I’m not exaggerating. His life may be in danger. Three people have already died in Moldova after April 7th while in police custody and three are missing.
I’m sure the US Embassy’s staff also could’ve done more for Mr. Netanyahu, if they wanted, or if the State Department demanded more decisive actions. I’m not asking for the marines to march to some Penitentiary in Moldova and save Mr. Netanyahu, no. The USA has enough political leverage in Chisinau to free him quietly and peacefully in less than an hour. All is required is a little will.
Are all US citizens equally protected by the Constitution of the United States? They may be, provided their story is covered by the news outlets.
I’d say, let’s make the story of the priest Johnatan Netanyahu who went, in search of God, to Moldova and ended up in a Communist prison, known. Let’s write about him, let’s ask questions, and let’s ask TV stations to talk about him. Because if you want the Communist interrogators to stop asking questions from American citizens, you have to make sure that the US media is asking the right questions.
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Dinu Popa is an independent analyst, resident of Dallas, TX, working for a telecommunication company. He holds a master’s degree in Communication Studies from the California State University. He immigrated to the United States from the Republic of Moldova.
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, pay an official visit to Brussels, between September 27-28, being invited by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Today, Prime Minister had a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The Moldovan PM thanked the senior European official for the support of the institution in strengthening democratic processes, reforming the judiciary and state institutions, economic recovery and job creation, as well as increasing citizens’ welfare. Natalia Gavrilita expressed her confidence that the current visit laid the foundations for boosting relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, so that, in the next period, it would be possible to advance high-level dialogues on security, justice and energy. Officials also exchanged views on priorities for the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in December.
“The EU is open to continue to support the Republic of Moldova and the ambitious reform agenda it proposes. Moldova is an important and priority partner for us,” said Charles Michel.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita also met with Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, expressing her gratitude for the support received through the OMNIBUS macro-financial assistance program. The two officials discussed the need to advance the recovery of money from bank fraud, to strengthen sustainable mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Moldova, and to standardize the customs and taxes as one of the main conditions for deepening cooperation with the EU in this field.
Additionally, Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and the Deep Free Trade Agreement, noting that the Government’s policies are aimed at developing an economic model aligned with the European economic model, focused on digitalization, energy efficiency and the green economy.
A common press release of the Moldovan Prime Minister with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, took place today, where the agenda of Moldova’s reforms and the main priorities to focus on in the coming months were presented: judiciary reform; fighting COVID-19 pandemic; promoting economic recovery and conditions for growth and job creation; strengthening state institutions and resilience of the country.
“I am here to relaunch the dialogue between my country and the European Union. Our partnership is strong, but I believe there is room for even deeper cooperation and stronger political, economic and sectoral ties. I am convinced that this partnership is the key to the prosperity of our country and I hope that we will continue to strengthen cooperation.”
The Moldovan delegation met Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Tomorrow, there are scheduled common meetings with Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Prime Minister will also attend a public event, along with Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Photo: gov.md
Politics
Promo-LEX about Maia Sandu’s UN speech: The president must insist on appointing a rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Transnistria
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to New York, USA, between September 21-22. There, she participates in the work of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a press release of the President’s Office, the official will deliver a speech at the tribune of the United Nations.
In this context, the Promo-LEX Association suggested the president to request the appointment of a special rapporteur in order to monitor the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. According to Promo-LEX, the responsibility for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region arises as a result of the Russian Federation’s military, economic and political control over the Tiraspol regime.
“We consider it imperative to insist on the observance of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation regarding the withdrawal of the armed forces and ammunition from the territory of the country,” the representatives of Promo-LEX stated. They consider the speech before the UN an opportunity “to demand the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Russian Federation with reference to this territory which is in its full control.”
“It is important to remember about the numerous cases of murder, torture, ill-treatment, forced enlistment in illegal military structures, the application of pseudo-justice in the Transnistrian region, all carried out under the tacit agreement of the Russian Federation. These findings stem from dozens of rulings and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in the region.”
The association representatives expressed their hope that the president of the country would give priority to issues related to the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region and would call on relevant international actors to contribute to guaranteeing fundamental human rights and freedoms throughout Moldova.
They asked Maia Sandu to insist on the observance of the obligation to evacuate the ammunition and the military units of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to publicly support the need for the Russian Federation to implement the ECtHR rulings on human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, and to request the appointment of an UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
**
The Promo-LEX Association concluded that 14 out of 25 actions planned within the National Action Plan for the years 2018–2022 concerning respecting human rights in Transnistria were not carried out by the responsible authorities.
The association expressed its concern and mentioned that there are a large number of delays in the planned results. “There is a lack of communication and coordination between the designated institutions, which do not yet have a common vision of interaction for the implementation of the plan.”
Promo-LEX requested the Government of the Republic of Moldova to re-assess the reported activities and to take urgent measures, “which would exclude superficial implementation of future activities and increase the level of accountability of the authorities.”
Photo: peacekeeping.un.org
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