Free movement restrictions violate human rights and generate problems in managing the epidemiological situation

Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Cristina Lesnic, held an online video-conference with representatives of the NGOs that signed a public appeal addressed to the 5+2 mediators and observers last week.

They expressed concern that the Transnistrian side was using the epidemiological crisis “as a pretext for a series of unilateral actions that encumber combating the COVID-19 pandemic; it also violates international human rights treaties, thus re-escalating the situation in the Security Zone". In this context, civil society representatives called, among other things, for the urgent convening of the 5+2 negotiation format meeting to examine the unilateral actions of the Tiraspol administration in the State of Emergency.

Deputy Prime Minister, Cristina Lesnic, greeted civil society’s interest on the situation in Transnistria and described evolution of the epidemiological situation in the region, the Bureau of Reintegration’s efforts to ensure access of population to medical services and compensated medicines on both banks of Nistru river. 

"We expressed openness to dialogue with the Transnistrian party and reacted to multiple complaints of the local public authorities and NGOs. We visited settlements in the Security Zone and notified negotiating partners and relevant human rights institutions about the findings. Instead, the Transnistrian party illegally installed new checkpoints, applied misinformation and information blockade", said Cristina Lesnic.

When discussing the content of the civil society's appeal, it was determined that the main problem on accessing compensated medicines and medical services derives from the 14-days quarantine obligation for anyone entering the right bank region. Thus, doctors working in the Security Zone settlements, but living on the left bank of Nistru, cannot come to work, while the citizens from the left bank, who are assigned to the said medical institutions, have no access to medical services and compensated medicines. The parties agreed that the 14-days quarantine requirement could be replaced by other effective epidemiological measures. 

Participants in the discussion agreed to maintain a permanent dialogue through an informal platform, opened to representatives of other concerned NGOs. 

Among appeal signatories are: IDIS "Viitorul", Association for Foreign Policy, Journalistic Investigation Center, Transparency International Moldova, Institute of Public Policy, Promo-LEX Association, Institute of European Policies and Reforms, Amnesty International Moldova, WatchDog.MD Community.