Noua cetateni ai Republicii Moldova risca sa fie judecati si pedepsiti pentru exercitarea dreptului la libera exprimare, infatisandu-se in instanta saptamana asta insotiti de un avocat. Daca vor fi inchisi, Amnesty International ii va considera prizonieri pe motive etice si va solicita eliberarea lor imediata.
Cei noua membri ai organizatiei non-guvernamentale Hyde Park au fost arestati pe 30 august la o demonstratie din capitala Chisinau pentru care aveau permisiune. Solicitau ridicarea unei statui a celebrului scriitor roman Liviu Rebreanu. Un mare numar de militieni au intervenit si in mai putin de 30 de secunde toti cei noua participanti ai manifestatiei au fost introdusi fortat in masini ale militiei. In inregistrari audio facute pe un telefon mobil se confirma faptul ca nu au opus rezistenta si nici nu au adresat insulte militiei.
Manifestantii au fost retinuti timp de 40 de ore in celule prost aerisite, la sectia de politie din Buiucani. In tot acest timp, nu li s-a dat nici apa, nici mancare, nici asternuturi, iar accesul la un grup sanitar a fost restrictionat. Un avocat s-a prezentat la sectie si a cerut sa vorbeasca cu ei, insa ofiterii i-au refuzat acest drept pe motiv ca pentru moment nu este permis contactul cu acuzatii. Pe deasupra, ofiterii au sters toate fisierele foto si video din telefoanele celor retinuti, fara a avea nici o aprobare judecatoreasca.
“Acesti noua oameni vor fi judecati pentru folosirea dreptului de libera asociere.”,a spus Heather McGill, cercetator peste Moldova al Amnesty International
“Modul in care au fost tratati de catre autoritati incalca drepturile internationale ale omului ce sunt valabile si in Moldova”
Intr-o scrisoare catre Procurorul General, Amnesty International a solicitat acuzatiile aduse manifestantilor la participarea lor la acest miting, avand in vedere ca Hyde Park avea autorizatie pentru acesta. Organizatia a solicitat de asemenea examinarea de catre Procurorul General a acuzatiilor privind opunerea de rezistenta si insultarea autoritatilor, si sa cerceteze comportamentul ofiterilor in acest caz.
Oleg Brega (33 de ani) se va infatisa in instanta pe 13 septembrie 2006. Este posibil sa fie acuzat de organizarea unui miting neautorizat in ciuda deciziei curtii din 28 august prin care li se dadea autorizare. Angela Lungu, Anatolie Juraveli, Roman Cotelia, Mariana Galescu, Sergiu Trocin, Anatol Hristea-Stan, Radu Vasilascu si Vitalie Dragan, cu varste cuprinse intre 18 si 50 de ani, au fost acuzati ,dupa articolul 174 din Codul Administrativ, de participarea la un miting neautorizat, opunere de rezistenta in fata fortelor de ordine si insultarea politistilor. Vor fi judecati la sfarsitul lui septembrie si ar putea primi pedepse de maxim 30 de zile de arest.

Context
Alte evenimente recente arata o lipsa de respect a autoritatilor moldovene fata de dreptul la libera exprimare. Pe 31 august, o actiune de stangere de semnaturi organizata de Amnesty International Moldova si alte organizatii non-guvernamentale, actiune ce facea parte din campania de oprire a violentei asupra femeilor, a fost dezbinata de politie, ce i-au prevenit pe homosexualii, lesbienele si transsexualii membri ai organizatiei GenderDoc-M, sa nu-si afiseze bannerul. Politia a acuzat GenderDoc-M ca sustine o propaganda pentru incurajarea modului de viata al homosexualilor si ca organizatia nu facea parte dintre participantii oficiali ai actiunii. Politia s-a retras, insa au tinut sa-l informeze pe primarul din Chisinau ca Amnesty International Moldova coopereaza cu GenderDoc-M, pentru a lua acest fapt in considerare cand va da autorizatii pentru viitoare actiuni.
Primarul din Chisinau a refuzat sa autorizeze parada gay in Chisinau pe 28 aprilie a acestui an, pe motiv ca grupari religioase au anuntat proteste daca acest mars ar fi avut loc.
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AI Index: EUR 59/007/2006 (Public), News Service No: 234, 11 September 2006
Moldova: Freedom of expression under attack

Nine people in Moldova are at risk of being tried and sentenced for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly with one activist appearing in court this week. If they are sentenced to prison Amnesty International will consider them prisoners of conscience and will call for their immediate and unconditional release.

The nine members of the Moldovan non-governmental organization (NGO), Hyde Park, were arrested on 30 August at a demonstration in the capital, Chisinǎu, for which they had been granted permission. They were demanding the erection of a statue to the famous Romanian writer Liviu Rebreanu. However, a large number of police descended upon them and in 30 seconds all nine participants in the demonstration were forced into several police cars. Audio recordings made on a mobile phone during the arrest by one of the members of Hyde Park show no evidence that the demonstrators resisted the police or insulted them.

The demonstrators were detained for 40 hours in the badly ventilated cells at Buiucani district police station. During this time they were given nothing to eat or drink, were not provided with bedding and only had limited access to a toilet. A lawyer was present and asked to speak to them, but police officers turned down the request on the grounds that he had not yet drawn up a contract with the accused. In addition, police officers studied and deleted all photographic and video contents from the detainees’ mobile phones without getting a court order.

„These nine people are going to be tried for the legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom of association and assembly,” said Heather McGill, Amnesty International’s researcher on Moldova.

„Their treatment by the police violates international human rights conventions that Moldova is party to.”

In a letter to the General Prosecutor, Amnesty International has asked for the charges against the demonstrators relating to participation in or organization of an unsanctioned meeting to be dropped since Hyde Park had permission for the demonstration. The organization has also asked the General Prosecutor to examine the charges of resisting, and insulting police officers, and to investigate thoroughly the actions of the police officers in this case.

33-year old Oleg Brega is going to appear in court on 13 September 2006. He may be charged in connection with organizing an unsanctioned meeting in spite of a decision by the appeal court on 28 August granting them permission. Angela Lungu, Anatolie Juraveli, Roman Cotelia, Mariana Galescu, Sergiu Trocin, Anatol Hristea-stan, Radu Vasilascu and Vitalie Dragan, between 18 and 50 years of age, were charged under Article 174 of the Administrative Code for participating in an unsanctioned meeting, resisting the police and insulting police officers. They will be tried at the end of September and could face maximum prison sentences of 30 days or a fine.

Background
Other recent events have also shown a lack of respect by the Moldovan authorities for freedom of expression. On 31 August, a signature collecting action organized jointly by Amnesty International Moldova with other NGOs as part of the Stop Violence against Women campaign was disrupted by police officers who tried to prevent the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender organization GenderDoc-M from displaying their banner. The police claimed that GenderDoc-M carries out propaganda for homosexual lifestyles, and that the organization had not been named as an official participant in the action. The police eventually withdrew, but threatened to inform the Mayor of Chisinǎu that Amnesty International Moldova cooperates with GenderDoc-M, so that it can take this into consideration when giving permission for future actions.

The Mayor of Chisinǎu refused permission to hold a Gay Pride rally in Chisinau on April 28 this year on the grounds that religious groups had announced that they would organize protest actions if the rally went ahead.

Public Document
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AI Index: EUR 59/007/2006 11 September 2006

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