---
title: "Over 1,600 abused women seek emergency shelter in Moldova"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/84915/over-1-600-abused-women-seek-emergency-shelter-in-moldova
published: 2026-09-12T05:45:00Z
language: en
author: "Alexandr Statnîi"
section: "Social"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Over 1,600 abused women seek emergency shelter in Moldova

> More than 1,600 domestic violence victims sought police protection and emergency psychological care across Moldova during the first nine months of the year, authorities said, as reporting rates rose.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/026be081-32da-4793-82fe-b94a31d3bc32.jpg)

More than 1,600 domestic violence victims sought police protection and emergency psychological care across Moldova during the first nine months of the year, authorities said, as reporting rates rose.

Of those seeking intervention, roughly 800 received specialized psychological counseling. Officials noted that 20 percent returned repeatedly to extend protection orders or access emergency housing at the Family Justice Centre, operated by the General Police Inspectorate (IGP).

While recorded domestic abuse cases have risen slightly compared to last year, law enforcement officials attribute the increase partly to a growing willingness among victims to break silence and report offenders.

**Cycle of abuse and electronic monitoring**

At the Family Justice Centre in Chisinau, Aurelia Golub sought shelter alongside one of her children following more than a decade of severe domestic violence, death threats, and physical assault from her husband.

*“Police called to tell me he had been detained and that I could safely go home, after I kept calling in panic to ask if I should hide,”* said Aurelia Golub, whose husband was placed in 30-day pre-trial detention. *“Even under an exclusion order and fitted with an electronic ankle monitor, he still showed up to beat and attack me. I had returned to him repeatedly after beatings because financial dependence and emotional pressure left me trapped.”*

Cornelia Lesnic, another survivor who sought refuge, said her teenage daughter with special needs suffered years of abuse inflicted by her own father before authorities intervened.

*“My daughter described everything she endured over the years, the relationship with her father, and the physical abuse,”* said Cornelia Lesnic. *“Authorities issued us an alert device that messages my phone whenever the perpetrator approaches our flat or nears us in the street. Without police intervention, I would not be safe today.”*

**Emergency response and round-the-clock support**

Specialists at the facility stress that immediate intervention remains critical to saving lives and preventing repeat victimization in households.

*“We provide psychological first aid just as one would administer emergency medical care,”* said Maria Țurcan, a staff psychologist at the centre. *“We offer victims active listening, safety, and confidentiality so they feel empowered to open up.”*

The Family Justice Centre operates 24 hours a day, providing comprehensive medical, legal, psychological, and rehabilitation support under one roof. Specialized response teams retrieve victims directly from their homes or local police stations, utilizing vehicles adapted for persons with disabilities.

*“Women subjected to violence must not suffer in silence,”* said Ivan Crețu, head of the Family Justice Centre. *“We urge every victim to summon courage and report abuse through the 112 emergency line or reach out to any frontline state specialist.”*

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

***
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