​OPPOSITION JOURNALIST’S MOTHER FOUND DEAD IN HER APARTMENT

The mother of renowned Moldovan opposition journalist, Director of the Panorama Russian-language weekly Dmitrii Ciubasenco, was found dead in her own apartment in the Ryshkanovka sector of Chisinau on Thursday night, Adrian Jovmir, Chief of the press service of the Chisinau General Police Inspectorate, told Infotag.

In his words, no evidence was found at the crime site which would indicate that the victim was robbed. There were no signs, either, that somebody had searched for valuables or through the woman’s things. Police investigators are working.

Dmitry Ciubasenco has confirmed this information. He told Infotag on Thursday morning that on Thursday evening her mother’s next-door neighbor lady phoned him and said that his mother had not been opening her home or coming out for quite long. Dmitry rushed to her mom’s place and found her dead. In his words, she looked as if she had first received a severe blow on the head and then was strangled. She was 75. The law enforcement started a criminal litigation.

“So far, I can’t understand definitely what happened – either it was a random attack by some lamebrains, or it was all aimed against me. The police must eventually find out”, said the journalist.

In his words, the apartment was in a usual, perfect order. The murderer(s) did not take anything. He said also that he received a telephone call from Minister of the Interior Dorin Recean, who assured the police would do everything to detect the crime.

Dmitry Ciubasenco is very well known in Moldova for his sharp articles in the press and appearances on the television. He has always been very critical towards the Moldovan authorities – the current ones and the previous country leadership, particularly toward then-President Vladimir Voronin.

In the current election campaign, he is actively backing the strongly oppositional Patria Party, which the Central Election Commission has decided to withdraw from the election campaign. This CEC decision is being examined by the Chisinau Appeals Chamber on Thursday.

Infotag administration and staff are expressing profound condolences to Dmitry Ciubasenco, who was a co-founder of Infotag and worked as its editor in 1992-1998, after which he founded and ran the Moldavskiye Vedomosti [Moldovan news] newspaper, and later on Panorama.