On May 27, 2011 the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) communicated the case of Promo-LEX and Others v. Moldova, no. 42757/09 lodged with the Court on 03 August 2009 by Promo-LEX, CReDO and I. Grosu.
The first two applicants, Promo-LEX and CReDO are non-governmental associations and the third applicant is Mr. I. Grosu.
So, on February 3, 2009 Promo-LEX and CReDO organized a protest in front of the Prosecutor General and at the event parrticipated the citizen I. Grosu. The protest was directed against the inaction of the General Prosecutor against police abuse. A few minutes after the start of the manifestation the protesters were attacked by seven men wearing balaclavas, were severely beaten, and gas was being against them.Following the attack I. Grosu suffered numerous injuries to the head and hands.Protesters managed to immobilize two of the attackers, one of them said that he was paid with 1,000 lei by an unknown person to participate in this attack. The assembly was followed, right from the start by four uniformed police officers and six civilian officers and some of them filming the event.However they did not intervien to stop the clash between protesters and attackers. Protesters have called the police for help but in vain.A police car arrived on the scene only after half past one and arrested the two attackers that had been restrained.
Organizers of the manifestation filed a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor-General but no action has been taken. Moreover the Prosecutor General’s Office issued a statement that the rally organizers were accused of provoking the incident. The two attackers which were detained by the plaintiffs were accused of disturbing public order, and the results of the criminal prosecution against them are not known until now.
The applicants complained of infringement on free assembly, but also the lack of effective means of redress against police failure to provide protection during the attack.
For more details, please contact: Alexandru Postica, the advocate of Promo-LEX: Tel: (22) 211622, GSM: 069104851, e-mail: [email protected]