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On April 3, 2020, in the morning Cebotari Anatolii and Carpov Alexei, residents of Molovata Noua village of Dubasari rayon, while being in Dubasari town (security zone under the control of the secessionist bodies) were detained by militia representatives from Dubasari town. Both Cebotari Anatolii and Carpov Alexei are working as ambulance drivers in the central hospital of Dubasari rayon, in the Emergency Unit. They were entering the day shift, activity which they have been practicing for 36 years (A. Cebotari) and for more than 5 years (A. Carpov).

As reported by the relatives and witnesses, it would result that Dubasari town militia deprived them of liberty after carrying out their activity for several days at a time. According to some sources, on the same day, a “judge” of “Dubasari Court” found the inmates guilty of committing an administrative contravention and set a 15-day administrative detention sentence for each of them with their detention in Dubasari detention facility. (the information is updated).

The friends and relatives sent some food and clothes for the prisoners who tried to do their job. There is no information on guaranteeing their rights of defense, as well as on their health status.

We recall that on 2 July, 2019, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in the case of Beșleaga v. Republic of Moldova and Russia (no. 48108/07). The court found the violation of art. 3, 5, 6, 10 and 13 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, alleging that the person had been detained against the law, under degrading conditions, for 15 days based on a “Judgment of the Dubasari Court”. It was emphasized that the courts in the so-called “transnistrian moldovan republic ” were not establish by law and that the complained governments did not establish any effective national remedy to defend the rights violated by the “tmr” structures.

Promo-LEX Association has been repeatedly emphasizing that all the necessary and characteristic measures for the State of Emergency during an epidemiological crisis must be effectively coordinated in order to avoid unjustified obstacles, which in turn jeopardize efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and, in particular, for the treatment of patients. This difficult time in fact represents a test of the true intentions of the participants in the negotiations on the Transnistrian dispute settlement. Permanent communication and effective coordination between the relevant subjects on both sides of the Dniester is required in the context of joint and effective efforts to prevent and combat Coronavirus, as well as in cases of serious human rights violations.

As of 17.03.2020, when the state of emergency was established in the Transnistrian region, Tiraspol administration has continued to restrict the human rights. We regret to note that these measures cannot be considered as reasonable and justified even during times of epidemiological crisis. It is inadmissible to block the movement for doctors and pharmacists (numerous cases reported over the last week) and now the arrest and detention of ambulance drivers. Artificial and unjustified obstacles to the activity of medical staff during times of epidemiological crisis represent a gesture of defying efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and to fight the epidemic.

While in the civilized world, medical professionals are appreciated, helped and honored for their efforts, in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova they are harassed, intimidated and condemned for wanting to continue their work during the epidemic.

WE URGE:

1. The Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Moldova, to take prompt action for the immediate and unconditional release from illegal detention of Cebotari Anatolii and Carpov Alexei;
2. The General Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the situation described above from the perspective of the Criminal Code provisions, if appropriate to start a criminal case;
3. Convening of the Unified Commission of Emergency Control to request the immediate withdrawal of the posts from Cocieri, installed unjustifiably after March 17, 2020;
4. Diplomatic missions to monitor the situation.

For more information contact: Ion Manole, Executive Director, Promo-LEX Association: GSM 069070800,  e-mail: [email protected]