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On 24 June 2016, the participants in the Conference of International Non-Government Organisations of the Council of Europe adopted a series of recommendations (CONF/PLE (2016)REC1) on human rights defenders’ protection in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova in the case of Promo-LEX Association.

Thus, according to the adopted document, the non-government organisations attending the conference showed their deep concerns about stigmatization, application of “special prosecution measures” and initiation of criminal proceedings against Promo-LEX Association human rights defenders.

At the same time, the participants in the conference expressed their concerns on the progress of the situation of human rights defenders and the lack of a legal and efficient framework that would establish clear guarantees for human rights observance and human rights defenders’ protection in the Transnistrian region.

The International Non-Government Organizations of the Council of Europe call upon Moldovan authorities to publicly condemn the threats against the human rights defenders initiated by the de facto administration of the region and to ensure effective and impartial investigation of the cases of reprisals against human rights defenders.

They also call upon Russian authorities to get actively involved and make use of their influence to determine the de facto administration of the region to stop exerting pressure on the human rights defenders.

In addition, they urge the international and inter-governmental organizations to initiate a urgent mission of monitoring the situation in the Transnistrian region.

We remind that during 21-24 June 2016 the Conference of International Non-Government Organisations of the Council of Europe took place in Strasbourg. During the event, the Human Rights Committee examined the situation of the human rights defenders in the Transnistrian region based on the case of Promo-LEX and its work in this area of the Republic of Moldova. The document can be viewed here.

According to Ion Manole, Executive Director of Promo-LEX Association: “Each administration, either de jure or de facto, shall be bound to observe the human rights and shall be made accountable for its actions. However, the de facto administration of the Transnistrian region continues to reject the dialogue on human rights and democracy, believing that these are political issues.

Thus, the impunity excels in this region and there are neither norms nor efficient legal remedies for protecting the human rights. The shortage of independent human rights defenders, impossibility to monitor the situation, to protect and promote the human rights in this region remain the main issues.

Last but not least, we are concerned about the lack of interest and consideration for the issue of human rights and human rights defenders in the Transnistrian region, for the working environment of the civil society, as well as for the situation of the freedom of the press”.

For more details, please contact: Carolina Bondarciuc, Promo-LEX Press Officer: GSM 060280980, Tel/Fax (+373 22) 450024, e-mail [email protected]