Over 50 Moldovans illegally detained in Tiraspol; issue to be raised at Chiveri–Ignatiev meeting
The issue of citizens illegally detained on the left bank of the Nistru, including the case of Evgheni Pancioha, will be discussed at a meeting on Thursday, April 16, between political representatives from Chisinau and Tiraspol. Valeriu Chiveri, the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, announced that the discussions will take place in Tiraspol in the "1+1" format.
The Pancioha case, along with other high-profile cases such as those of Zaharov, Cenușa, Ceban, and Zinin, is currently under the scrutiny of the Bureau for Reintegration Policies. This issue was discussed during the "1+1" meetings held on February 26 and April 16 in Tiraspol, as stated by Deputy Prime Minister Chiveri after a government meeting on April 15.
The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that authorities on the left bank of the Nistru consistently violate human rights. The cases of Moldovan citizens who have been illegally detained are being monitored by the government in Chisinau and international partners.
“International actors, including the OSCE mission in Moldova, have been made aware of the situation surrounding citizen Pancioha and other significant cases for which, regrettably, no solutions have been found yet,” Chiveri explained.
When asked how many Moldovan citizens are currently being held illegally in the Transnistrian region, Chiveri indicated that there is no exact number, but estimates suggest a significant figure.
“We do not have an exact count, but it is quite a large number. If we consider those who have filed applications with the European Court of Human Rights or who have been released from prison on the left bank of the Nistru, we have identified around 50 cases. However, the actual number is likely much higher,” the official said.
We remind you that in early April, the “Promo-LEX” Association urged constitutional authorities to take urgent action regarding the case of Evgheni Pancioha, who has been illegally detained for eight years in the Transnistrian region on charges of alleged “treason.” His health condition has deteriorated significantly.
Evgheni Pancioha, a 42-year-old originally from Tiraspol, was sentenced to 13 years in prison by the occupation regime in Tiraspol on December 21, 2018, for allegedly collaborating with Ukrainian secret services.
“Promo-LEX” reports that Pancioha is being held at the illegal detention facility known as “UIN-2” in Tiraspol, where he lacks access to adequate medical care and is unable to communicate with the outside world.
Due to inadequate medical treatment and the inhumane conditions of his detention, Evgheni Pancioha faces the risk of irreversible consequences, including potential death while in custody, according to the organization's appeal.
Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri is scheduled to meet with Vitali Ignatiev, the political representative of Tiraspol, on Thursday, April 16. The discussions will be held in the “1+1” format at the headquarters of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in the Transnistrian region.
This will be the second meeting in this format since the beginning of the year, following the first meeting on February 26, which also took place in Tiraspol.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration said the agenda will include discussions on access to education and environmental management, along with additional topics proposed by Tiraspol.
