IGNORING OF ECHR DECISIONS UNDERMINES TRANSNISTRIANS' TRUST IN JUSTICE - PROMO-LEX

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is often a single instrument of protecting the rights of Transnistrian citizens and the reluctance to fulfill its decisions undermines their trust in justice, maintains Chairman of the Promo-Lex human right association Ion Manole.

He reminded at the Monday's international conference "Fulfillment of ECHR Decisions Concerning the Transnistrian Region" in Chisinau, that Russia has many times been recognized by the Court as responsible for human right violation, but this does not exempt Moldovan authorities from the duty to ensure the observance of the rights of region's citizens.

According to him, the problem of human right observance in Transnistria is aggravated by the fact that if Chisinau official authorities periodically are inspected by international structures, in case of separatist regions this is impossible due to barriers, put by heads of these formations.

"Without active civil society and local NGOs it is impossible to intervene in the situation with human rights in Transnistria", Manole said.

Deputy Premier for reintegration Cristina Lesnic said that within the discussion with Transnistrian authorities it was agreed to resume the work of subgroup on human rights, which has long been nonfunctional.

"Any ECHR decisions are connected with dialog, however it is possible only in conditions of understanding", she said.

Minister of Justice Alexandru Tanase said that the Transnistrian conflict is a national tragedy, which does not allow the country to normally develop.

He reminded that the case of Ilascu and others against Moldova and Russia became the key factor in formation of relations between the European court and the Republic of Moldova. The decision on this case established that Russia is providing political and material assistance to the regime in Transnistria, thus it is Russia that is responsible for the human right observance in the region.

"Moldovan citizens cannot freely move due to the so-called border. For example, I am not allowed to visit Transnistrian localities since 2009", Tanase said.

The conference participants said that most often the right on education, on free movement and the right to fair justice are being violated in Transnistria.

Infotag's dossier: Russia has 13 times been declared guilty of violating human rights in Transnistria. The ECHR obliged the Russian Government to pay over 2.3 million euros in the form of compensating moral and material damage, 963 thousand euros of which have already been paid.