S T A T E M E N T
on the abuses of the police forces
The electoral climate in the Republic of Moldova is marked by a series of events of a negative nature that can cause severe damages to the integrity of the electoral process, by undermining the democratic process and affecting the image of the country within and outside its borders.
Tacking into account the upcoming electoral campaign, we are expressing our concern over such occurrence of such events that could endanger the good running of local general elections of 2007, and the democratic, free and fair character of the campaign.
In this context, Coalition 2007 is expressing its disagreement with the actions undertaken by the police forces on 27 March 2007 when a group of citizens were detained while walking towards the place of commemoration of historic personalities.
Coalition 2007 is expressing its disagreement, especially, in regard to the detention by police forces of the PRO-TV crew, and the seizure from DTV channel of crew’s tape and its demagnetization. It is extremely alarming that the repressive actions of the interior forces continued the following day, when the print run of the „SP” newspaper in Balti was arrested. This series of events leaves no room to doubts over regrettable accidents; on contrary, it suggests that these actions were not random.
We are qualifying all these actions as inadequate to a democratic society, as attempts to intimidate citizens who share different views to the official ones, and as an attempt to curtail freedom of expression.
We are calling on the authorities and police forces to refrain in the future from actions incompatible with democratic standards.
Note:
1. To find out more about the activities of the Coalition 2007, please contact the Coalition Secretary, Mihai Godea at: 233946, 233948, [email protected] and/or the Communications Officer of the Coalition, Liliana Viţu at: 0691 49217, 235343, [email protected].
