The U.S. has severely Criticized the Human Rights Situation in Moldova

Political prisoners, persecution of journalists and opposition, torture in jail, selective justice, unpunished corruption in the highest echelons of power - all this is contained in U.S. MOLDOVA 2018 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT. On March 13, the U.S. Department of State released its annual human rights report 2018. The report was presented by the head of the state Department Mike Pompeo, OMG.md reports. The introduction to the section on Moldova briefly lists the country's problems: torture, arbitrary arrest and detention; harsh conditions of detention, especially in remand prison 13; interference in private life; restrictions on media freedom; expulsion of asylum-seekers to a country where they reasonably fear persecution (note. ed. - Turkish educators); unwillingness to investigate acts of corruption at a high level, etc. In connection with the torture and humiliating treatment of prisoners, the Report draws attention to cases of Andrei Braguta,  Serghei Cosovan and Veaceslav Platon. In the section “Political Prisoners and Detainees” the U.S. Department of State describes two situations: with political prisoners of Petrenco activists and also with the arresting of the leader of local Communist party Oleg Horjan in Transnistria. Like never before, the Report takes a significant place of violation of media freedom, restriction of journalists' activities. In particular, there was mentioned the prosecutionof journalists of JurnalTV and TV8 by the authorities, which were deliberately not allowed at the press conference of the ruling democratic party. Also, there is pressure on RISE and Ziarul de Gardă media and authorities' persecution against the journalist Victor Sofrani from Rezina. Ilan Shor verbally attacks of journalists also became the subject of the Report. The U.S. Department of State notes that despite the complaint filed with the Prosecutor General’s Office, as of the end of last year there was no result. The Report of the U.S. Department of State also draws attention to the fact that "since 2014, the Pro-Russian opposition "Our Party" has been subjected to pressure, blackmail and slander campaigns". It is indicated that followng the forced departure of the party's leader Renato Usatii to Russia in 2015, the mayors of “Our Party” and municipal councilors constantly faced continuous threats. “Our Party” members located in the country’s second largest city of Balti were prone to attacks and harassment of party members and their family members. “Corruption remained one of the country’s most serious problems. While the law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, the government failed to implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity.  There was widespread corruption within the judiciary and other state structures.  The government made some progress in investigating corruption MOLDOVA cases involving public officials and the judiciary, but these actions were mostly perceived as selective justice" the U.S. Department of State reports. Presenting the report on March 13 in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in particular, said that the White house “will continue to work with any government in the world, regardless of the level of protection of human rights in them, if it will contribute to American interests”. As Pompeo added, the United States admit that government that respects human rights are in the American interests. The U.S. Department of State has published reports on the human rights situation in the world since 1977. They are prepared by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour. Source: Point.md