Chisinau, September 19 (Infotag). “My Moldova” public association maintains that the country’s judicial system has been under a constantly growing administrative pressure by the Communist authorities.

Association Chairman Fedor Ghelici told a news conference in Infotag today that judges oftentimes make decisions contradicting to the Moldovan legislation, particularly if the offender is an official who is a member of the ruling Communist Party.

“Last 12 months, the Association received many complaints about the arbitrariness of local bureaucrats and inertia of the judiciary. For example, the Baltata Village mayor (Criuleni raion) feels free to usurp other people’s property by breaking locks, invading homes, and organizing pogroms there. And he always provides justification to such actions of his. When the prosecutor office demands to bring the mayor – who is a Communist Party member – to criminal responsibility, the court declares merely an administrative reprimand”, stated Fedor Ghelici.

In his words, “many judges do not even conceal they act as the authorities demand them to. Many employees of prosecutor offices and courts agreed to have sincere conversations with us, but asked to withhold their names in apprehension for their jobs and the safety of their families”.

Ghelici emphasized, “European laws do not work in Moldova. As for the reform of the judiciary, there is more trumpeting about the reform than real deeds. Judges’ salaries remain modest. Courthouses are in need of repair. Citizens get increasingly discontented with the judiciary activities, and lose trust in justice”.