PRINT

Yesterday, on 7 May 2015, the Chairperson of Tiraspol Security Committee, M. Lapitchii, brought new harsh accusations (see unofficial translation here) against Promo-LEX Association and its Executive Director, Ion Manole. This is the local KGB’s response to the call for support, launched by the national civil society and international organizations with regards to the criminal cases opened against members of Promo-LEX Association.

We remind you that on 17 April 2015, the Security Committee issued a press release, blaming Promo-LEX for having carried out subversive actions on the left bank of the Nistru River. Further on we present the official response of Promo-LEX, provided by its Executive Director, Ion Manole.

On the Actions Following the Statements Made by Tiraspol Authorities

On 17 April as soon as the information was published on Tiraspol’s KGB website, we sent an inquiry to the so-called Tiraspol Investigation Committee and to the head of KGB, requesting information on the accusations and insinuations brought against the Association an its members. We did not receive any formal answer other than by Internet, which we believe is very strange.

This gesture is worrying. We saw that several human rights international organizations and networks took action and demanded form both the authorities and international organizations to take cognizance of that declaration and undertake any possible actions in order to protect the interests of our organization.

I would like to thank the national and international partners for the support provided to Promo-LEX Association, including by issuing support statements.

On the Statement Published Yesterday on KGB’s Website

What we saw were neither accusations nor insinuations, they were just some questions without answers that have nothing to do with Promo-LEX Association. Those questions probably have a different target group, namely the population and especially the NGOs from that region, in order to keep them away from their activities and outcomes. Therefore, they have a propagandistic nature.

Human rights organizations do not make war by definition. To be more specific, we may say that we fight for human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of ethnicity, spoken language or other criteria. We do not discriminate people living in that region. People in the Republic of Moldova benefit and will continue to benefit from our quality services.

On the Aims and Objectives of Promo-LEX

We regret greatly that there are opinions among representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations that our activity is indeed, just as the Tiraspol KGB states – destructive and hindering the negotiation process. We regret greatly that the advocacy and strategic litigation actions, which our organizations have been carrying out for 12 years, are regarded as destabilising. A dialogue or a peace process can not be a sterile one. If there is no substance and the prosess does not include the aim of achieving a clear order, creating effective tools for people to be able to defend their rights, such processes can remain formal and last forever. But in such situations, their occurs the issue of the protecting of the human rights.

We know that Tiraspol accused Promo-LEX of insisting on opening political files against those over there. Taking this opportunity, I want to tell them that it is not Promo-LEX insisting, but rather the law stipulating clearly that no one can go unpunished for the committed illegal deeds. Therefore, we establish the problem when the rights of a certain person, who contacts us, are violated. Then we notify the law enforcement bodies, in the manner prescribed by law. Our jurists and lawyers are bound by the duty to serve the victims’ interests. This is true for all cases, regardless of where the offense was committed or who the abuser is.

We are aware of the fact that Tiraspol believes that Promo-LEX is insisting on opening political files on certain people from the region. Taking this opportunity, I want to tell them that it is not Promo-LEX insisting, but rather the law that clearly that no one can go unpunished for the committed illegal actions. Therefore, we identify the problem when the rights of a certain person, who contacts us, are violated. Then we notify the law enforcement bodies, in the manner prescribed by law. Our jurists and lawyers are bound by the duty to serve the victims’ interests. This is true for all cases, regardless of where the offense was committed or who the abuser is.In the roughly 25 years of dialogue, the de-facto administration in Tiraspol rejected any initiative or proposal on human rights issues in this space created a legal vacuum total for promoting, monitoring and especially for human rights.

It is, perhaps, the economic and social situation in the region that makes them look for problems elsewhere than within their administration.

On Human Rights

We believe that human rights are not negotiable. They must be respected. This is what we request from the negotiations in the 5+2 format, which should also discuss the human rights, and not ignore this topic. As we stated in front of the European Parliament, in such situations and for such regions like Transnistrian region, which is controlled by a de facto regime, human rights issues should be separated from politics, and by no means should they be determined by the political and geopolitical situation.

Conclusions

Regardless of international recognition, each administration or authority has the obligation to respect fundamental human rights. Those from Tiraspol cannot be outside those rules. All persons who are responsible for violations of norms, rules or rights must bear responsibility.Impunity cannot be justified on political or geopolitical purposes.