International obligations of the Republic of Moldova and risks for its credibility abroad

Written declaration No. 644 | Doc. 14425 | 12 October 2017

Signatories:

Baroness Doreen MASSEY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Lord Donald ANDERSON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Pablo BUSTINDUY, Spain, UEL ; Mr Paolo CORSINI, Italy, SOC ; Ms Vanessa D'AMBROSIO, San Marino, SOC ; Mr Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Giuseppe GALATI, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Marco GATTI, San Marino, EPP/CD ; Mr Jean-Pierre GRIN, Switzerland, ALDE ; Ms Annette GROTH, Germany, UEL ; Mr Matjaž HANŽEK, Slovenia, UEL ; Ms Gabriela HEINRICH, Germany, SOC ; Mr Andres HERKEL, Estonia, EPP/CD ; Ms Alice-Mary HIGGINS, Ireland, SOC ; Mr Andrej HUNKO, Germany, UEL ; Ms Lotta JOHNSSON FORNARVE, Sweden, UEL ; Ms Filiz KERESTECİOĞLU DEMİR, Turkey, UEL ; Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Estonia, ALDE ; Mr Ertuğrul KÜRKÇÜ, Turkey, UEL ; Mr George LOUCAIDES, Cyprus, UEL ; Sir Alan MEALE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Miroslav NENUTIL, Czech Republic, SOC ; Mr Pieter OMTZIGT, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Mr Aleksander POCIEJ, Poland, EPP/CD ; Ms Ulla SANDBÆK, Denmark, UEL ; Mr Axel SCHÄFER, Germany, SOC ; Mr Frank SCHWABE, Germany, SOC ; Ms Petra De SUTTER, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Mart van de VEN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Ms Gisela WURM, Austria, SOC ; Mr Roger ZAVOLI, San Marino, FDG

This written declaration does not reflect the position of the Assembly; only of those members that have signed it. It will not be considered further by the Assembly.

The lack of reforms and disregard for the recommendations of the European Union are accompanied by ongoing repression against civil society activists supporting the anti-corruption protest movement in the Republic of Moldova. We regret that the State authorities have not responded to the written declaration No. 637 so far.

We support the European Union decision on suspending macro-financial assistance for the Republic of Moldova as an instrument of pressure aiming at improving the rule of law and the human rights situation in the country.

Recently, the demands for the personal sanctions of the European Union against corrupted officials have been raised by civil society during massive protests in Chisinau. In return, the State bodies have started a new wave of repression against activists. On 18 September 2017, Alexei Alexeev, a man carrying sound amplification speakers, was arrested and accused of endangering the life and health of police officers. Several other activists were detained.

Criminal proceedings against the exiled lawyer and human rights defender Ana Ursachi and threats against philanthropist Alexandru Machedon are underway.

We call on the Moldovan authorities to consider their international obligations and the risks for their credibility abroad. The voice of the society must be heard.