Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have issued a Written Declaration demanding to immediately stop political persecutions in Moldova, “Our Home is Moldova” (OHM) party leader Grigore Petrenco stated at a news conference at Infotag on Friday.

 

According to him, the Declaration appeared after the Court in Chisinau had prohibited him to leave Moldova and go to Strasbourg to attend the PACE Summer Session. The thing is, ex-parliamentarian Grigore Petrenco is a former Chairman of the Unified European Left group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

 

“On the last day of the Summer Session, the European lawmakers signed the Declaration, in which they condemned the Moldovan authorities’ actions and demanded that “The continuation of political persecutions in Moldova must be stopped immediately””, said Grigore Petrenco.

 

The Declaration further held that “The political turmoil in the Republic of Moldova and the honoring of its obligations towards the Council of Europe remain matters of concern for the members of the Assembly”.

 

“In its last Resolution #1955 (2013) on Moldova, the Assembly revealed serious dysfunctions of the Prosecutor’s Office and other law-enforcement institutions. It highlighted the need to de-politicize State institutions and ensure a better separation of powers, mentioning that “state institutions should never serve only one party or one individual’s interests. We strongly condemn all political persecutions against the politicians and activists. We call Moldovan authorities to respect all their commitments in the field of human rights and to refrain from any intimidation of politicians and activists”, said the Declaration.

 

“I think this is a direct and clear signal for Vlad Plahotniuc [the First Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party and the Coordinator of the ruling parliamentary majority in Moldova]. It is clear to all that the Declaration, signed by parliamentarians from Portugal, Germany, Cyprus, Turkey, Switzerland, Austria and other countries, means the Democratic Party of Moldova and our oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc”, stated Grigore Petrenco.

 

He announced that the Republic of Moldova will shortly be visited officially visited by a PACE delegation, who will come to hold meetings with the Moldovan authorities, political parties, the opposition, civil society activists, and will visit the Transnistrian region.

 

“I think Plahotniuc is playing with fire. He thinks he is free to do what he wishes in Moldova and to continue repressions. I am convinced his time will come, and he will answer for all his lawlessness, which he committed last few years. All these declarations, reports, resolutions by international structures, including European organizations, will not pass unnoticed or without consequences for the incumbent government”, stated Grigore Petrenco.

 

As already reported by Infotag, Grigore Petrenco and his 6 comrades were detained before the Prosecutor General’s Office last September 6 “for organization of unrest”, according to the investigation’s version. On that day, they brought tens of their supporters for an action of protest before the Prosecutor General’s Office. The police did not let them approach the Office doors. A noisy scuffle broke out, in which 6 cops were slightly injured. The Ministry of the Interior put the entire responsibility for the incident on the protesters, the more so that iron chains were found with the protesters, who maintained that it was just a symbol of unity with the people, while the police maintained that the chains were weaponry.

 

The Moldovan court twice denied permission to 4 European parliamentarian to become guarantors for Petrenco’s liberalization under their personal responsibility. Such a guarantee was given for the first time in the history of the independent Moldova’s judiciary. However, the court refused to, and said that the European parliamentarians must be present in person at the court session.

 

The said guarantees for Petrenco were signed by members of the European Parliament Helmut Scholz and Gabriela Zimmer as well as by German Bundestag deputies and PACE members Tini Hoks and Andrei Hunko.

 

The Sectorul Riscani Court of Chisinau has several times extended custody to the Petrenco group. On February 28, they were transferred under house arrest with a maximum-possible restriction of personal freedom, when they are prohibited to leave their homes, to use telephones and e-mail etc.

 

By, the Court changed the measure of restraint to a judicial review, at which the Petrenco group may not take part in massive actions of protest or leave the Republic of Moldova territory.

 

The ex-parliamentarian and his party comrades are being charged of the organization of massive unrests (Article 285 of the Criminal Code), and they may receive up to 8 years in jail.