Romania Seeks Court Action Against Parties Responsible For Moldovan Violence – Pres

Romania will ask European officials to launch inquiries into the riots that started in neighboring Moldova last week and find out the parties responsible for the abuses committed by Moldovan authorities.

 

“We are worried about retaliatory measures taken by the authorities in Moldova, about the serious infringement of human rights. The situation became even worse following actions to limit and block mass-media activity, actions that try to hide from the public abuses and the brutal behavior of law enforcement troops. The journalists who can still broadcast mention kidnappings, abusive detains, threats, citizens under terror, forgery of files, inquires conducted without providing legal assistance to the detainees,” Basescu told the lawmakers.

 

He said Romania is concerned about “aggression and illegal measures taken so far against Romanian nationals” in Moldova.

 

“The retaliations in Moldova, the infringement of fundamental human rights, of the freedom of expression, alongside the expulsion of journalists and the accusations against Romania compels us to demand a European investigation to establish responsible parties for the retaliations occurred in the past days,” Basescu said.

 

Should retaliatory measures continue, Romania will consider the appropriate form of humanitarian aid and protection for those “whose lives and integrity are threatened,” Basescu mentioned.

 

“We will continue to support people in Moldova who think of themselves as Romanians and who feel Romanian. We don’t have to accept that the people out there be isolated from the rest of the Europe,” he concluded.

 

Last week, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has accused EU member Romania of meddling with his country’s affairs and attempting to stage a coup, following anti-communist riots in Chisinau after the elections on April 5.

 

After accusing Romania of fueling the riots in Chisinau, the Moldovan authorities reacted by imposing a visa regime on Romanian nationals, expelling Romania’s ambassador and denying access or detaining Romanian journalists.