The attack against Promo-LEX Association manifested by initiating criminal files against the members of the Association (see details here), by the security service (”kgb”), established by de facto regime from Tiraspol, as well as the interdiction to travel and to freely carry out activity of promoting the human rights in the transnistrian region, has come to the attention of the Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
On 27th May 2016, the case of Promo-LEX Association was included in the Communications reports of special procedures of the UNO (A/HRC/32/53) which shall be audited during the 32nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, to be held within 13 June – 1 July 2016, in Genève, Switzerland (see here). The session shall also deliberate on the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/32/20) on the practical recommendations for the creation and maintenance of a safe and enabling environment for civil society, based on good practices and lessons learned which referred to Promo-LEX case as well (see here).
Therefore, on 7 Deceber 2015 The Special Report of the United Nations Organization on human rights defenders acted on the complaint of Promo-LEX Association, jointly with other Special Rapporteurs addressing appeals [1] to the Government of the Republic of Moldova, UN Resident coordinators, UN General Secretary Representative (Dafina Gercheva) and to Tiraspol administration (Ignatiev Vitaly).
The rapporteurs expressed their concern regarding the criminal proceeding initiated by the security services from the transnistrian region against Promo-LEX members, which pursuant to the rapporteurs greatly hamper exercising the right of freedom of expression and monitoring the violations of human rights in the region; also with regard to the “special investigation measures” applied during the alleged criminal investigation, which could lead to the infringement of the right to privacy of the Association’s members.
In the referred appeals, the rapporteurs drafted clarification questions regarding the instance of intimidation of Promo-LEX Association and the members thereof, requesting the concerned parties to submit the information within 60 days. Once submitted within the period requested by the rapporteurs, the replies of Tiraspol administration should have been published in the Communications report of special procedures as of 27 May 2016, insofar this information could have been made public and presented during the 32nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. However, the reply of the Government of the Republic of Moldova [2] was not published in the Communications report of special procedures as of 27 May 2016.
For further details, please contact Nicoleta Hriplivîi, Lawyer, Promo-LEX Association, GSM: 0692 79 133, e-mail: [email protected]
[1]The letters were addressed on 7 December 2015 jointly by the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (David Kaye); UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association(Maina Kiai); UN Special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (Michel Forst).
[2] Notă: Acest raport se referă la toate apelurile și comunicările de urgență Raportorilor Speciali între 1 decembrie 2015 și 29 februarie 2016, cât și răspunsurile primite între 1 februarie și 30 aprilie în 2016.