Doc. 8213

25 September 1998

Release from prison of the Moldovan

parliamentarian Ilie Ilascu

Written declaration no. 283

This written declaration reflects only the views of the signatories

      The Republic of Moldova, which has been independent since 1990, has been unable to reinforce its State institutions because it has been dragged into a war aimed at dismembering its territory. As a result of the war declared by anti-democratic forces, the region on the left bank of the Dniestr has been split from the rest of the Republic of Moldova under the name “Trans-Dniestr Republic”, which has not been recognised by any State, and rightly so.

      Many Moldovan patriots enlisted for the war against this secession and for the integrity of the Republic of Moldova. Ilie Ilascu was one of these soldiers. He was taken prisoner of war by the so-called authorities of Tiraspol and wrongfully brought before the courts of an illegal state. Following a political, communist-style trial, Ilie Ilascu was sentenced to death by a completely unlawful judgement.

Although Ilie Ilascu’s death sentence was never executed, the Tiraspol authorities have been holding him and other Moldovan patriots in prison for about eight years, under extremely harsh conditions.

      During these eight years Ilie Ilascu has twice been democratically elected to the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, but, being in prison, has been unable to exercise his mandate.

      Ilie Ilascu, a patriot who fought for the independence and integrity of his country, is a parliamentarian imprisoned for the offence of defending his country and his people’s unity. This is why all parliamentarians who are members of the Council of Europe are invited to take steps to ensure the speedy release of the parliamentarian Ilie Ilascu.

Signed¹:

Besostri, Italy, SOC

Briane, France, EPP/CD

Cox, United Kingdom, SOC

Cubreacov, Moldova, EPP/CD

Dromberg, Finland, EDG

Eltz, Croatia, EDG

Figel, Slovakia, EPP/CD

Fleetwood, Sweden, EDG

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Hoeffel, France, EPP/CD

Jansson, Finland, LDR

Korkeaoja, Finland, LDR

Marty, Switzerland, LDR

Mattéi, France, LDR

Mignon, France, EDG

Mota-Amaral, Portugal, EPP/CD

Nedelciuc, Moldova, LDR

Newall, United Kingdom, EDG

Ojuland, Estonia, LDR

Popescu, Ukraine, NR

Ragnarsdottir, Iceland, EDG

Roseta, Portugal, EPP/CD

Rugate, Latvia, EPP/CD

Russell Johnston, United Kingdom, LDR

Rusu, Moldova, EPP/CD

Sincai, Romania, SOC

Sinka, Latvia, EDG

Solonari, Moldova, SOC

Speroni, Italy, NR

Squarcialupi, Italy, SOC

Stanoiu, Romania, SOC

Steolea, Romania, EDG

Stepova, Czech Republic, SOC

Tahiri, «The former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia », EDG

Telgmaa, Estonia, EDG

Urbanczyk, Poland, SOC

Weyts, Belgium, EPP/CD

Woltjer, Netherlands, SOC

_________________________

Total = 38

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