Promo-LEX Association disapproves of the abusive and illicit actions of customs bodies’ representatives and the illegal administration from Tiraspol with regard to the restraint of the freedom of movement and the sequestration of ballot boxes destined for the electoral district of Corjova village, Dubasari district.
On March 19, 2009, at 11 A.M. at the “customs” point neighboring Pohrebea village, Dubasari district, the vehicle transporting the ballot boxes destined for the electoral district No. 5 of Corjova (administrative electoral district No.15 from Dubasari) was stopped. The Mayor of Corjova and the vehicle driver Oleg Cernatu were deprived of their liberty onsite for about four hours at the so-called “customs” point.
Having detected ballot boxes amongst the transported goods destined for the oncoming parliamentary elections, the representatives of this “customs service” demanded that the Mayor pay the value of the transported goods. Upon his refusal to pay these certain sums illegally solicited by illicit institutions, the persons (can be identified) declared that the goods will be sequestrated and a report will be initiated on the driver. The Mayor has insisted upon the return of the vehicle and the ballot boxes in order to avoid this unpleasant situation and also upon the fact that the driver has nothing to do with the ballots, but his words were ignored. As a result the ballot boxes have been sequestrated and a report of alleged “customs” misbehavior was initiated with regards to the driver.
Repeatedly, Promo-LEX Association are presented with various situations proving the abuse on behalf of the illegal bodies’ representatives from the region. The situation in question demonstrates once again the non-constructive and repressive characteristics of the regime. We regret to state that the purpose of the illegalities and the intimidations that took place on March 19, 2009 is the aggravation of the region’s situation before the elections of April 5, 2009. The constitutional electoral bodies announced the establishment of the polling station No.5 in Cojova village and the sequestration of the ballot boxes is the first action taken to intimidate the citizens who would like to exert their constitutional right to vote. We point out that local elections of 3rd and 17th June, 2007 were aborted due to organized violence by numerous persons, representatives of region militia and the occupation of the polling station of Corjova.
Corjova Mayor and the vehicle driver Oleg Cernatu were arrested and held at the territory check point for a long period of time, while the ballot boxes were displayed in the public eye with the purpose of intimidation and warning for all the people crossing the area. Therefore, this was a clear display offered to the region population by the separatist Tiraspol regime that they would not accept civilized conduction of the elections in the security area and the whole region.
On March 17, 2009, Promo-LEX appealed to the representatives of the constitutional authorities and to the Russian Federation to place on the agenda of Moscow discussions, topics regarding the issues and the situation of human rights in the region.
Promo-LEX called upon the signers of the Moldo-Russian Agreement of 1992 to comply with their international commitments and positive responsibilities with regard to the rights of territory people, stating the right of suffrage as major priority for the present moment. We regret to state that the topic has been ignored or at least has had a null result.
In this context, we reiterate insistently the content of the 17th March, 2009 appeal, and in the event of a new meeting between Voronin and Smirnov on March 25, we demand the discussion of the topic with regard to the necessity of the unconditioned respect for the rights of region people, especially the right of suffrage.
At the same time, we ask the constitutional authorities to undertake all the peaceful legal actions to the return the sequestered ballot boxes as soon as possible and to demand from that the Tiraspol regime refrain from any actions restraining the freedom of movement, the right to property and the right of suffrage during the electoral period.
Actions and procedures provided for in the national legislation should be undertaken for the unbiased examination of the case circumstances and the eventual administrative and penal punishment of the persons responsible for the abuse in question.
In the meantime we appeal to all national and international competent bodies to adopt a clear position of condemning the regime for any intimidation or repressive action.
Promo-LEX Association is a member of Civic Coalition for free and fair elections -2009 and monitors the Parliamentary elections in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
Legal Department
Promo-LEX Association