Quite often women – victims of domestic violence who are trying to protect themselves are seen as aggressors being forced to fight alone at court trying to prove their innocence. A relevant example of such a situation can serve the case of Liuda Liudei Iachimovschi, victim of domestic violence and the mother of three children risking five years of prison due to ungrounded accusation of her husband- aggressor.

Thus, according to the final Decision of the Supreme Court of Justice as of February 18, 2014, published on April 1, 2014, Mrs. Iachimovschi was acquitted for reason of accusations of her husband on causing medium bodily injuries were declared as false.

16 years of marriage for Liuda Liuda Ichimovschi have been actually 16 years of violence and abuse from the part of her husband. Although they have three common children she has been repeatedly subject to physic aggression and blackmail.

The incident leading to opening of a criminal case against Liuda Iachimovschi took place in October 2011 when she was beaten by her husband, was strangled and lost her conscious causing slight bodily injuries. The victim recovered after the fainting when her husband was hitting her in the face and bit involuntary the top of his little finger. Later Alexander Iachimovschi filed an application to the Ungheni Prosecutor’s Office and the criminal case on this fact was opened.

There followed a litigation lasting for two years. The decision of the first instance, the Court of Ungheni region, by which Liuda Iachimovschi was acquitted, was contested by the prosecutor. The Court of Appeal, in its turn has pronounced the decision condemning the victim of domestic violence. The final instance, the Supreme Court of Justice has maintained the sentence of the Court of Ungheni region by which Liuda Iachimovschi was acquitted.

During the court hearings Alexander Iachimovschi was invoking contradictory statements whenever he was questioned and according to preliminary hearings he actually told three different variants of the same incident. Moreover, the probability of falsifying the medical expert report stating that Alexander Iachimovschi had been caused medium bodily injuries was very high as the further commission expertise proved that initial injuries were not confirmed. Thus the law enforcement authorities are still to pronounce on this fact,

Liuda Iachimovschi was represented at the court by the Promo-LEX. We’d like to remind that the Promo-LEX Association provides legal help for victims of domestic violence free of charge.

For more information please contact: Lilia Poting, Lawyer of Promo-LEX Association, e-mail: [email protected], Tel: (22) 45-00-24.