Political

ECHR Condemns Russia: Transnistria Torture Exposed

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has again condemned Russia for illegal arrest, torture, and inhuman treatment in the Transnistrian region.

Ukrainian citizen Olexandr Lipovcenko was convicted in 2016 by the self-proclaimed authorities in Tiraspol for advocating in his personal notes for the introduction of United Nations forces into the region.

Two residents of the Transnistrian region with Ukrainian citizenship were sentenced to three and a half years in prison by the separatist authorities in Tiraspol for so-called acts of extremism. Lawyer Alexandru Postica stated that one of the individuals, Olexandr Lipovcenko, was convicted in 2016 and held in degrading conditions for a prolonged period – a fact confirmed by the ECHR.

"The European Commission unanimously found that he was subjected to torture as a result of being detained for a long period of time, in inhuman and degrading conditions, and for forced psychiatric treatment. I emphasise that this provision in the so-called legislation of the Transnistrian region is still in force," said Alexandru Postica.

Russia is obligated to comply with the ECHR ruling, even though it was made almost two years after Russia's expulsion from the Council of Europe, said Vadim Vieru, program director at the Promo-LEX Association. The ECHR will continue to examine cases against Russia.

"The cases pending before the European Court of Human Rights, including those concerning violations in the Transnistrian region committed by the Russian Federation, will be examined and ruled upon by the Court. This occurred in the recent case of Lipovcenko and Halabudenco versus the Russian Federation. In this case, there was a legal battle between the parties' representatives – the lawyers of the Promo-LEX Association and the Government of the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation attempted to argue that the justice system in the Transnistrian region, even though it is unrecognised, might partially adhere to human rights standards and therefore could be used by the applicants," said Vadim Vieru.

To date, over 50 rulings have been issued against the Russian Federation for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region. Russia is obligated to pay damages of approximately five million euros in these cases.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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