U.S. State Department Criticizes Moldova for Human Rights Violations

The U.S. State Department points out human rights problems in Moldova in its 2022 Annual Report. The document cites problems such as: “reports of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment by authorities”, “harsh and life-threatening prison conditions”, “serious problems with the independence of the judiciary”, “serious acts of government corruption”, logos.press.md reports. The report also notes a “lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence, including domestic and intimate partner violence and sexual violence; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting Roma; crimes, violence, and threats of violence motivated by antisemitism; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex persons; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting persons with disabilities; and the existence of the worst forms of child labor.” “While authorities investigated reports of human rights abuses and corruption committed by officials, the process was slow and burdensome.  During the year, authorities indicted and detained several former high-level officials including former President Igor Dodon, former member of parliament Vladimir Andronachi, Shor Party member of parliament Marina Tauber and former director of Moldovan Railways Anatolie Topala.  None of these cases resulted in conviction by a court at year’s end.  Authorities took some steps to identify, investigate, and prosecute officials for human rights abuses, but progress was slow,” report reads. Human rights problems in Transdniestria are also mentioned: forced disappearance; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by “authorities;” harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; political prisoners or detainees; serious problems with the independence of the “judiciary;” arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; lack of accountability for domestic or intimate partner violence. The State Department also cited serious restriction on free expression and media; the existence of criminal libel “laws”; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive “laws” on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations; serious restrictions on freedom of movement; serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation; serious “government” corruption; serious “government” restrictions on or harassment of domestic and international human rights organizations.