Politics
PASOS: Degradation of Political Regime Continues in Moldova
Reading Time: 4 minutesPolicy Association for an Open Society (PASOS) Appeal to: the European Parliament; European Commission; Council of Europe; Czech Government, President of the European Union
Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS) Appeal to: the European Parliament; European Commission; Council of Europe; Czech Government, President of the European Union
DEGRADATION OF POLITICAL REGIME CONTINUES IN MOLDOVA
Following our Statement on the Political Crisis in Moldova (10 April 2009), new signs have emerged indicating a severe political deterioration in the country, in particular the increasingly anti-democratic nature of the political regime in Moldova. The government authorities are now impeding the work of independent civil society and independent media at a time when independent voices are essential to witness and investigate human rights abuses carried out by the police authorities cine the elections of 5 April 2009.
As Members of the PASOS Network, we are very concerned at the lack of progress in curbing the escalation of the political crisis in Moldova, and the lack of impetus from the side of the European Union, at the very moment when core civil liberties are being threatened, especially the access to free media, the, right to associate and other fundamental liberties and rights, enshrined in the key treaties ratified by the Republic of Moldova.
We have now learned that Moldovan non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and media that monitored the elections of 2009, have come under intense pressure from the Ministry of Justice to ‘present their official appraisal of the post-election protest actions of 6-7 April, 2009’, presumably to demonstrate their political stance, disapproval or loyalty to the authorities. They have been asked to release a report of their actions to stop the riots. We would like to read a report on actions taken to stop the riots, but one written by the authorities.
Ultimatum delivered to civil society groups by fiscal authorities to declare sources of funding
Since 24 April 2009, the day of the visit to Chisinau of the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, the Communist-controlled Fiscal Tax Inspectorate of Moldova has sent letters of summons to at least ten organisations, demanding the presentation of their sources of funding, and a financial report for 2009 in a form that is usually required of political parties, warning that they could freeze bank accounts without explanation of their reasons.
Three of these organisations, Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) “Viitorul”, Association for Participatory Democracy – ADEPT, Institute for Public Policy, are independent policy centres and members of PASOS (Policy Association for an Open Society), a network of 39 independent think-tanks in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia committed to promoting and protecting open society values, in particular democracy, the rule of law, good governance, and respect for and protection of human rights.
Independent media urged to disclose confidential sources
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has cracked down on independent media that investigated post-election cases of human rights abuses, including torture, committed by the Moldovan police. On 24 April, three independent media outlets, “Timpul”, “Jurnal de Chisinau”, and “Ziarul de Garda”, were urged by the authorities to release the names of the confidential sources they quoted in their journalistic investigations, so as to silence the witnesses who reported about the police brutalities and torture committed against arrested persons in police custody. There is no scope for considering that the timing of this step was a pure coincidence!
We believe that the attempt to uncover the names of anonymous sources is unacceptable, considering the real concern for their individual safety and freedom. Their disclosure would be an infringement of journalistic ethics. Furthermore, the Ministry of Internal Affairs itself should collect evidence concerning the abuses committed against arrested persons by the police force, and should co-operate with journalists to establish the facts, not interfere in their work.
Coalition 2009 accused by the Ministry of Justice of organising the protests
It seems that the Communist Party leaders are turning a deaf ear to both domestic and international criticism, attempting to curb the efforts of watchdogs and to silence think-tanks that provided their own views about the protest actions and the response of the authorities in Moldova. This is not the first case of intimidation of civil society groups in Moldova, but the threat ha reached a dangerous new level. On 21 April, Coalition 2009 sent an open letter to the Ministry of Justice, expressing bewilderment about an accusation put forward by the Ministry – that Coalition 2009 was allegedly one of the organisers of the 7 April protest events in the centre of Chisinau. The Coalition wrote that it was not an organiser of the aforementioned protests, and criticised acts of violence from both sides, the protesters and the police. We are very concerned at this attempt to mislead the public.
All these facts show that the political regime in Moldova is rapidly abandoning its democratic commitments, and turning Moldova into a state where the rule of law is not upheld, where human rights abuses, including torture, go unpunished, and where pluralism of opinion and civil liberties are under threat. In order to stop the intimidation of independent media and civil society, we appeal for democratic solidarity and more effective involvement of the key EU agencies to bring about an end to the violent behaviour of the authorities against democratic groups. We urge the Government of Moldova to allow an international investigation mission to report on the atrocities and abuses that have been committed, and to co-operate in a wide-ranging, inclusive dialogue to arrive at appropriate responses to the overarching crisis.
On behalf of our centres and institutes, we would like to see more support provided to the people in need in Moldova, those who are subjected to daily harassment through political repression, and we urge less ‘business as usual’ on vaguely defined strategic considerations of the EU.
EU intervention essential to support human rights and civil liberties
We appeal to the Czech Presidency of the European Council, the European Commission, the EU Special Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, to the EU member-state governments, and to Members of the European Parliament carefully read this letter, and to respond with effective action to renew the commitment of the EU towards respect for and protection of human dignity, political freedoms and civil liberties. We call upon the EU to condemn autocratic, one-party control of political and economic institutions in the neighbouring countries of the EU. We appeal for human solidarity with the democratic forces of civil society in Moldova, and urge both international media associations and political institutions of the European Union in Moldova to take a strong, principled position in defence of human rights and freedom of association and expression.
April 28, 2009
Signatures:
Jeff Lovitt, Executive Director, PASOS (Policy Association for an Open Society)
Dr Igor Munteanu, Director, IDIS Viitorul, Moldova
George Tarkhan-Mouravi, co-Director, Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), Georgia
Zhidas Daskalovski, President, Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), Macedonia
Arcadie Barbarosie, Director, Institute for Public Policy (IPP), Moldova
Valeriu Prohnitski, Executive Director, Expert-Grup, Moldova
Igor Botan, Executive Director, Association for Participatory Democracy – ADEPT
Olga Shumylo, Executive Director, International Centre for Policy Studies (ICPS), Ukraine
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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