Disappearance of a member of the Parliament

28/03/2002

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is deeply concerned by the current situation in Moldova after the disappearance of Mr. Vlad Cubreacov, deputy chairman of the recently suspended Christian Democratic Popular Party (CDPP) and member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, under conditions which remain unknown.

According to the League for the Defence of Human Rights in Moldova (LADOM), a member organisation of the FIDH, Mr. V. Cubreacov is reported missing since 21 March 2002, after his driver drove him back home at 23.00pm.

Mr. Cubreacov, a well-known politician in Moldova and CDPP's main ambassador to the international community has contributed actively in the organisation of the street protests against the governmental policies such as the imposition of the Russian language in Moldovan elementary and secondary schools. These demonstrations, which began on 9 January 2002, have been constantly taking place in the Great National Assembly Square since then. The deputy also defended the interests of Basarabia Church at the European Court of Human Rights.

It must be noted that Mr. Cubreacov's disappearance occurred on the same day, 21 March 2002, when the General Prosecutor of Moldova presented to the Parliament a petition requesting the deprivation of the immunity of three CDPP's deputies: Iurie Rosca, leader of the Party, Stefan Secareanu and Cubreacov. Their immunity was requested so that judicial proceedings be brought against them for organising anti-governmental demonstrations without permission, on the basis of the "Law on Organisation and Unfolding Meetings" which clearly violates the right to peaceful assembly.

The FIDH is very preoccupied by this disappearance, which occurs in a context of repression of political opposition. In this regard, the FIDH recalls that another Moldovan politician, Mr. Ivan Burgudji, head of legal department of People's Assembly of the autonomous region of Gagauzia disappeared on 7 March 2002. Mr. I. Burgudji was beaten and apprehended in his office in Comrat by unidentified civilians carrying automatic guns. Since this event, his whereabouts remain unknown. Mr. Burgudji has participated in a successful attempt to obstruct a referendum, organised last February and supported by the Moldavian Government, to throw the governor of the region out of the power, in violation of the current Gagauz legislation. Few days earlier, on 27 February 2002, the General Prosecutor of Moldova had opened against him a criminal case connected to this referendum. According to latest information, Mr. I. Burgudji would be detained by the Secret Services of the country.

The FIDH urges the Moldovan authorities to find the whereabouts of Mr. Cubreacov and Mr. Burgudji and to guarantee the physical and mental safety of the two politicians. The FIDH demands to the public authorities to proceed to an immediate investigation into the circumstances of those incidents, identify those responsible, bring them before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal; civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by the law.

The FIDH also requests the Government to respect its obligations under the international law concerning the efficient protection and promotion of human rights as they are guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by the Republic of Moldova.