Motion for a resolution | Doc. 13761 | 21 April 2015

Mr Dan Adamescu and the right to a fair trial

Signatories: Mr James CLAPPISON, United Kingdom, EC ; Lord Donald ANDERSON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Vahan BABAYAN, Armenia, EC ; Lord Richard BALFE, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Brian BINLEY, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Christopher CHOPE, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Michael CONNARTY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Lady Diana ECCLES, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Jonathan EVANS, United Kingdom, EC ; Ms Ingebjørg GODSKESEN, Norway, EC ; Ms Unnur Brá KONRÁÐSDÓTTIR, Iceland, EC ; Ms Inese LAIZĀNE, Latvia, EC ; Ms Hermine NAGHDALYAN, Armenia, EC ; Mr Piotr NAIMSKI, Poland, EC ; Mr Ömer SELVİ, Turkey, EC ; Mr Krzysztof SZCZERSKI, Poland, EC ; Lord John E. TOMLINSON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Robert WALTER, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Morten WOLD, Norway, EC ; Ms Naira ZOHRABYAN, Armenia, EC

In February 2015, Mr Dan Adamescu, a German citizen and a businessman was convicted in a Romanian court of alleged offenses of corruption and received a sentence of four years and four months imprisonment without parole.

Before the trial of Mr Adamescu took place, the Prime Minister of Romania publicly accused him of “leading a network of corruption to such great effect over a period of many years”.

In pre-trial hearing the Judge referred to the matters alleged in respect of Mr Adamescu as established facts rather than allegations and denied bail on the basis that Mr Adamescu had refused to admit guilt.

Amongst other matters Mr Adamescu had been the owner of Romania Libera, a newspaper that was critical of the Romanian Government.

The Parliamentary Assembly affirms its belief that the presumption of innoncence and the right to a fair trial are indispensable in the administration of justice and the maintenance of human rights and shall call on all member States to ensure that these legal principles are scrupulously observed.