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On 7 May 2015, the Transnistrian Committee for State Security (Transnistrian KGB) published new accusations against human rights organisation Promo-LEX.

Promo-LEX is a human rights and advocacy organisation. It was established in 2002 by a group of human rights defenders, with the aim of advancing human rights in the Republic of Moldova. Promo-LEX works on the entire territory of Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, and cooperates with Transnistrian NGOs to protect human rights in the region.

The accusations were brought against Promo-Lex in a public statement made by the Chairperson of the Transnistrian KGB, Mr Lapitchii, in which he branded the work of the the organisation as “destructive and hostile”, and against the Transnistrian Republic. Promo-LEX’s Executive Director, Mr Ion Manole, was specifically named in the accusation.

The statement of the Transnistrian KGB came in response to an appeal for support sent by 38 national and international civil society organisations to the Moldovan authorities, following the opening of criminal cases against members of Promo-LEX. The criminal investigation into the activities of the organisation was announced by the Transnistrian KGB in a statement issued on 17 April 2015, which designated civil society organisations receiving funds from abroad and actively working on Transnistrian issues as a threat to Transnistrian security.

The latest attack on Promo-LEX could be linked to the judgement of 21 April 2015 of the European Court on Human Rights. In the case of a victim in the Transnistrian region, represented by Promo-LEX, the ECHR found a violation of the right to life, as well as procedural violations concerning the carrying out of a full investigation into accusations of a human rights violation. Promo-LEX is awaiting more than 20 separate decisions by the ECHR on human rights violations committed in the region.

Front Line Defenders is strongly concerned by the harassment of Promo-LEX and the announced investigation into its activities, which it believes to be directly related to the organisation’s legitimate work in the defence of human rights.

Front Line Defenders here.