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MoldovaHuman Rights
The adoption of Moldova's constitution of August 27,
1994,
codified certain basic human rights (including the rights
to
private property, individual freedom and personal
security,
freedom of movement, privacy of correspondence, freedom of
opinion and expression, and freedom of assembly), which
were
observed more in the breach during the Soviet era.
However, the
constitution still contains language that could limit the
activities of political parties and the press.
Although there is not government censorship of
Moldova's
independent periodicals and its radio stations and cable
television stations, journalists complain that editors
encourage
them to soften their criticisms of government officials
for fear
of confrontation and possible retribution. This seems to
be a
well-grounded fear in Transnistria, where the authorities
have
cut off funding for two newspapers for occasionally
criticizing
some government policies and have physically attacked a
cable
television station for broadcasting reports critical of
the
authorities.
In 1994 Parliament considered a new law on the press,
which
journalists criticized strongly because it limited their
right to
criticize government policies. After reviewing
recommendations
from the Council of Europe and the Conference on Security
and
Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), Parliament liberalized the
law but
left some restrictions that appear to be aimed at writings
favoring reunification with Romania and those questioning
Moldova's right to exist.
The Moldovan Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry
of
National Security were investigated on several occasions
in 1994
as to whether they had exceeded their legislated
authority. They
were accused of monitoring political opposition members
and using
unauthorized wiretaps. There were also claims of
interference
with opposition activities during the campaign preceding
the 1994
elections, but there was no public investigation of those
charges. The police, subordinate to the Ministry of
Interior, are
known to use beatings in their dealings with some
detainees and
prisoners.
Reform of the judiciary (to bring it more into line
with
Western practices) was approved, but Parliament had not
passed
the laws needed to implement it by the end of 1994. For
example,
prosecutors rather than judges issue search and arrest
warrants,
there is no judicial review of search warrants, and courts
do not
exclude evidence obtained illegally. There are also
reports that
local prosecutors have brought unjustified charges against
individuals in retaliation for accusations of official
corruption
or for political reasons.
Trials in Moldova are generally open to the public, and
the
accused has the right to appeal. Bail does not exist, but
release
usually may be arranged by obtaining a written guarantee
by a
friend or family member that the accused will appear in
court.
Because the security forces and the government of the
"Dnestr
Republic" are so closely connected, human rights abuses in
Transnistria are more flagrant. The worst of the abuses in
Transnistria occurred in 1992, during the height of the
fighting.
There were reports of beatings, ill treatment, abduction,
torture, and even the murder of civilians by members of
the
police and the so-called Republic Guard. Requests for
visits by
Amnesty International and the International Committee of
the Red
Cross were routinely refused.
In Transnistria four of the six ethnic Romanians of the
"Tiraspol Six" remain in prison following their conviction
in
1993 for allegedly assassinating two Transnistrian
officials. The
fairness of the trial was seriously questioned by
international
human rights groups, and there were allegations that the
defendants were prosecuted solely because of their
membership in
the CDPF.
Moldova has several local human rights groups, which
maintain
contacts with international organizations, including
Helsinki
Watch and Helsinki Citizens Assembly. The government does
not
interfere with human rights groups' operations.
Data as of June 1995
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