Moldova citizens Pavel Grigorciuc and Mikhail Amerberg were arrested on an invented pretext, and the criminal case started against them is but a political order given by the authorities, maintains the detainees’ lawyer Roman Aronov.

 

He stated at a news conference at Infotag today that the criminal litigation started against his clients is but an awkward attempt to suppress citizens’ rights and freedoms and an obvious police operation against dissidents.

 

“Such actions run contrary to the principles of a law-governed state and to the course for European integration, which the authorities have declared and been speaking about everyday. Judging by them, the human right observance in Europe is sacred and unshakeable, but in Moldova any person can be caught and thrown to jail on ridiculous charges”, said the lawyer.

 

He presented the main points of accusations made against Pavel Grigorciuc and Mikhail Amerberg, such as: recruiting of citizens into the Antifa [anti-fascist] organization; raising of “considerable financial means” intended for “overthrowing of the incumbent government”; raising of information about Moldovan power structures; arming of Antifa activists.

 

The lawyer said that in the materials of the case given to him by the Prosecution, there is no even a single evidence of a single recruited person. As for the above-mentioned “considerable financial means”, the police confessed that they had found no money with Pavel Grigorciuc during a search at his place, and with Mikhail Amerberg they found 315 euros.

 

There is no evidence or data, either, about the alleged arming of unknown Antifa members by his clients, said the lawyer.

 

“At Mikhail Amerberg’s home, the police really arrested something – 5 firearm pieces, including a Glok pistol, a Makarov pistol and a carbine. But that entire arsenal was kept by its owner on fully legal grounds, which the law enforcement certainly knew. This weaponry was already withdrawn by the police once – half a year ago during searches carried out within the framework of the Durlesti Maniac case. Then, the police tried to involve Amerberg into the maniac case. Now, they are again trying to make a scapegoat of him”, stated the lawyer confidently.

 

Roman Aronov said he had sent addresses to profiled international organizations accredited in Chisinau – to the OSCE Mission to Moldova, the Amnesty International Moldova, and Human Right Embassy.

 

The lawyer’s letter to these organizations said, in particular, “As a human rights advocate, I am concerned that in the present-day Moldova, all prerequisites are being created for building a social system, at which the authorities are seeking to control harshly, including by means of repressions, citizens’ social, economic and political life. And the case of political prisoners Mikhail Amerberg and Pavel Grigorciuc is a bright proof of this”.

 

Aronov said that the Chisinau prison #13, where his clients are detained, was visited by OSCE diplomats on Wednesday.

 

“I realize it was a symbolic visit, but I am grateful for it. I demand release of my clients because they are being detained absolutely without grounds”, stated the lawyer.