Recently the European Court of Human Rights has notified the governments of Moldova and Russia about the application of Mr. Valeriu Mitul and Iurie Coţofan (Application no. 33446/11).
Valeriu Mițul is the ex-mayor of Corjova village, from Dubasari district and Chairman of the “Corjova 1992” War Veterans Association. Iurie Coţofan is council adviser in the same village. Every year on March 2, Corjova villagers commemorate the victims of the 1992 war on the Dniester.
In 2011, the march to commemorate the victims of the 1992 war on the Dniester was taking place peacefully and without incidents, until the representatives of local militia requested the first applicant (Mr. Valeriu Mitul) to stop the march and not to hold the Moldovan flag.
The participants ignored the request of the local militia and continued by attending a religious ceremony. At the end of the commemorating ceremony 30 militia surrounded the participants and Valeriu Mițul and Iurie Coţofan were seized and escorted to the militia headquarters in the Dubasari town.
One hour after the incident, the applicants were charged with administrative offenses, namely resisting to the “MRT militia” during an “unauthorized meeting” were the Moldovan flag was displayed. On the same day, the so-called „judges” from Dubasari town, found them guilty of the charges, and applied seven days of administrative detention for each applicant. Subsequently Valeriu Mițul and Iurie Coţofan were released under an order of the leader of the region.
In their complaint to the European Court of Human Rights, the applicants complained about the violation of article 3, 5 paragraph 1, 11 and 13 of the Convention. Attorneys from the Promo-LEX Association represented the applicants before the European Court for Human Rights.
The details on the application are available on the web site of the European Court of Human Rights.
For details, please contact: Alexandru Postica, Promo-LEX Association Program Director, Attorney at Law, tel: (022) 450-024, GSM: 069-104-851, email: [email protected].