Doc. 8236

9 October 1998

Violations of human rights in the eastern part of the Republic of Moldova

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Nedelciuc and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The Assembly regrets that despite the efforts of the government of the Republic of Moldova as well as of the international community, notably the OSCE, the eastern part of the Republic of Moldova remains under the control of the illegal separatist regime (this state of affairs is imprecisely called Transnistrian problem) which systematically and flagrantly violates human rights.

2.       It deplores the continuous refusal of the separatist authorities of the said region to seriously consider the proposals of the Moldovan Government, welcomed by the OSCE and other international bodies, to settle differences within the framework of the Moldovan Constitution, relevant international norms and with due regard to the legitimate concerns of the population of the region and the people of the country as a whole.

3.       The Assembly notes with dissatisfaction that the continued presence of Russian troops in this part of the Republic of Moldova is in breach of the international commitments of the Russian Federation and does not contribute to the peaceful and fair settlement of the Transnistrian issue.

4.       It considers as totally unacceptable and running counter to the European spirit and democratic values the situation where the population of that region is bereft of fundamental human rights, such as freedom of expression and information, the right to elect and to be elected in free and fair elections, to educate their children in their mother tongue, to be protected from the arbitrary interference of the administration and to have access to an independent judiciary. It is especially concerned by the fact that numerous refugees and displaced persons have been forced to flee that region and are still not able to return.

5.       The Assembly further strongly condemns the continuous imprisonment of MM. Ilie Ilascu, mmber of the Moldovan parliament, Andrei Ivantoc, Alexandru Lesco and Tudor Petrov-Popa who were never tried by an independent and legally established court and who are exposed to inhuman and degrading treatment by the separatist authorities.

6.       It expresses its alarm over the lack of control on the arms deposits accumulated in the said region during the Soviet era and the numerous reports of arm smuggling from those reserves.

7.       The Assembly welcomes the efforts of the OSCE as well as the official position of the Russian Federation and Ukraine which undertook to mediate in order to obtain a mutually acceptable settlement of the Transnistrian problem but regrets lack of progress in this respect.

8.       It urges the Russian Government to honour its commitment concerning the withdrawal of Russian troops from the eastern part of the Republic of Moldova.

9.       The Assembly especially calls on the Governments of Russia and Ukraine to continue their efforts as mediators with a view to the final settlement of the Transnistrian problem.

10.       The Assembly considers that the authorities of the said region have to enter into sincere and responsible dialogue with the Moldovan Government with a view to resolving this problem within the framework of the Moldovan Constitution and in accordance with international norms, as well as put an end to the violations of human rights in the region, the first step in this direction being the immediate release of Mr Ilie Ilascu, MP et al. or their transfer to the Moldovan judicial authorities.

11.       It considers that further investigations of the situation concerning human rights in the said region and of the possibility of further action in order to contribute to the settlement of the Transnistrian problem are necessary.

13.       It recommends that the Committee of Ministers be actively involved in the search for a solution to this issue.

Signed¹:

Nedelciuc, Moldova, LDR

Solonari, Moldova, SOC

Antretter, Germany, SOC

Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Bársony, Hungary, SOC

Bergqvist, Sweden, SOC

Besostri, Italy, SOC

Blaauw, Netherlands, LDR

Blunck, Germany, SOC

Chiliman, Romania, LDR

Chornovil, Ukraine, EDG

Contestabile, Italy, EPP/CD

Cox, United Kingdom, SOC

Cubreacov, Moldova, EPP/CD

Cunliffe, United Kingdom, SOC

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Degn, Denmark, SOC

Demetriou, Cyprus, EPP/CD

Dumitrescu, Romania, SOC

Elo, Finland, SOC

Eörsi, Hungary, LDR

Eversdijk, Netherlands, EPP/CD

Frunda, Romania, EPP/CD

Gabrielescu, Romania, EPP/CD

Gelderblom-Lankhout, Netherlands, LDR

Gjellerod, Denmark, SOC

Gül, Turkey, EDG

Gylys, Lithuania, SOC

Hagard, Sweden, EDG

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Hegyi, Hungary, SOC

Holovaty, Ukraine, LDR

Iwinski, Poland, SOC

Jansson, Finland, LDR

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC

Kelam, Estonia, EPP/CD

Kirkhill, United Kingdom, SOC

Kovalev, Russia, LDR

Kurykin, Ukraine, NR

Kuzmickas, Lithuania, EDG

Lesein, France, LDR

Van der Linden, Netherlands, EPP/CD

Lupu, Romania, EPP/CD

Magnusson, Sweden, SOC

Martinez, Spain, SOC

Mutman, Turkey, SOC

Nastase, Romania, SOC

Newall, United Kingdom, EDG

Niculescu, Romania, SOC

Paslaru, Romania, SOC

Pollo, Albania, EPP/CD

Ponsonby, United Kingdom, SOC

Popesku, Ukraine, NR

Poptodorova, Bulgaria, SOC

De Puig, Spain, SOC

Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC

Rusu, Moldova, EPP/CD

Sincai, Romania, SOC

Sinka, Latvia, EDG

Sole Tura, Spain, SOC

Stanoiu, Romania, SOC

Steolea, Romania, EDG

Tabajdi, Hungary, SOC

Urbanczyk, Poland, SOC

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Woltjer, Netherlands, SOC

Zingeris, Lithuania, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic and Reformers Group

LDR: Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group