Moldova's asylum centre fails to meet European standards
Political asylum seekers in the Republic of Moldova are experiencing poor conditions at the accommodation centre operated by the General Inspectorate for Migration.
This finding comes from the Ombudsman, Ceslav Panico, who has published a special report evaluating the procedures for processing asylum applications at Chișinău International Airport and the conditions at the accommodation centre. The report reveals several deficiencies that contribute to human rights violations.
The evaluation report highlights significant shortcomings at the asylum seekers' accommodation centre, identifying multiple issues. Among these are the urgent need for repairs and inadequate accessibility for persons with disabilities and mothers with young children.
"It is clear that these centres are an improvement over some penitentiaries and many other facilities, but they do not meet the European standards we aspire to. We are discussing access to bathrooms, drinking water, the actual accommodation, the rooms where people are housed, and even access to sheets and blankets," stated Ceslav Panico.
The Ombudsman’s monitoring also uncovered procedural gaps in the Border Police’s operations, which could lead to violations of fundamental human rights.
"When an individual arrives in the Republic of Moldova and expresses a desire to seek asylum or submit an asylum application, their request should be promptly forwarded to the General Inspectorate for Migration. Currently, it appears that the Border Police conduct a preliminary review, handling and analysing the request before forwarding it to the General Inspectorate for Migration. This process should adhere to international standards for direct handling," Panico added.
Representatives from the General Inspectorate for Migration and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, contacted by Moldova 1, did not respond to requests for comment.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
