Tiraspol, December 1. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The Independent Human Rights Center Pridnestrovian Meridian issued a statement in which it drew attention to the ongoing practice of pressure on the PMR officials by the authorities of the Republic of Moldova. One of the latest cases of this kind is when the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pridnestrovie, Vitaly Ignatiev was stopped and thoroughly checked at the Chisinau airport. Because of this, the visit of the Foreign Minister to Russia was disrupted.
Before that, a Pridnestrovian delegation returning from Moscow was also detained at the Chisinau airport for three hours.
Human rights activists note that Moldova's actions grossly contradict the agreements reached in 2014, 2016, and 2019, and call on the international community to intervene. Here is the text of the statement of the center Pridnestrovian Meridian in full:
The Independent Human Rights Center Pridnestrovian Meridian notes with regret the fact that this year the situation with the violation of the rights of the inhabitants of Pridnestrovie by the Republic of Moldova has significantly worsened and purposeful actions of the leadership of the neighboring country are visible, aimed at aggravating contradictions. Recent events only confirm this view.
The Republic of Moldova has been using methods of politically motivated pressure against citizens and officials of Pridnestrovie for many years. One of them is unjustified detentions and in-depth checks at the airport in Chisinau.
It should be noted that Chisinau and Tiraspol agreed with the participation of international mediators back in 2014 to exclude the application of administrative sanctions on the movement of residents of Pridnestrovie, including abroad, in 2014 - a protocol decision was signed on certain aspects of the freedom of movement of the population. Then the issue of the unhindered passage of officials was touched upon in the final Protocol of the official meeting of the 5 + 2 in Berlin in 2016. And in the development of these documents, several years ago, in 2019, the parties came to a gentleman's agreement, according to which, in particular, the Moldovan authorities should not create administrative obstacles for Pridnestrovian officials when they cross the state border of Moldova, including at the airport in Chisinau. However, the Republic of Moldova ignores these agreements, as many others reached within the framework of the negotiation process.
When departing and returning through the Chisinau airport, including by service exigency, Pridnestrovian officials regularly face deliberate delays in the passport control procedure and unreasonable in-depth checks in the so-called second line, which includes an unpleasant search of personal belongings and luggage. Heads and ordinary employees of ministries and departments, people's deputies, and public figures are faced with discriminatory measures.
Among recent cases, it is worth noting the three-hour detention of a Pridnestrovian delegation on November 19,
which included deputies of the Supreme Council, and deputy heads of ministries. Without explaining the reasons, their documents were taken away from them, and after an hour of waiting, a "second level" search was carried out: luggage, clothes, and personal belongings were checked. After that, persons in civilian clothes who did not introduce themselves talked to the officials of Pridnestrovie. They expressed claims and political threats against the activities of officials and Pridnestrovie as a whole, carried out attempts at tendentious agitation, voiced ridiculous accusations, and hints at the possibility of a repetition of armed confrontation.
This practice harms the atmosphere of trust between Pridnestrovie and Moldova, creating additional tension. However, instead of returning to a civilized approach, the Moldovan authorities only aggravate the situation more.
We are talking, in particular, about the egregious and unprecedented case of personal pressure on the Minister of Foreign Affairs Vitaly Ignatiev (also a representative for political issues in the Pridnestrovian settlement from Pridnestrovie), which took place on November 23, as a result of which his working visit to the Russian Federation was disrupted. While passing through passport control at the airport in Chisinau, he was detained by the border police of Moldova and subjected to an in-depth check with a search of luggage, hand luggage, personal belongings, and even clothes and shoes. In the course of the mentioned actions, the passport of the Pridnestrovian diplomat was in the hands of the border police of Moldova, who returned the document after the departure of the flight.
It is difficult to assess these actions otherwise than a demonstrative violation by the Republic of Moldova of the rights of citizens of Pridnestrovie guaranteed by international norms and enshrined in the agreements of the negotiation process.
We state with concern that such a blatant provocation clearly illustrates Chisinau's disdain for basic human rights and freedoms, for the international negotiation process and its principles. In this context, the Human Rights Center Pridnestrovian Meridian calls on the Republic of Moldova to reconsider its attitude towards the inhabitants of Pridnestrovie from the point of view of a human rights approach and return to building peaceful and constructive good neighborliness.
The Pridnestrovian Meridian also persistently urges the world community to pay attention to the current situation and make every possible effort to prevent such violations of the rights and freedoms of citizens of the republic in the future.
