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OSCE petitioned for help in freeing Moldova political prisoner
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe opened the door to representatives from Pridnestrovie's civil society in the Ivan Burgudji case. OSCE was asked for help in freeing Burgudji, a human rights activist who is currently jailed on trumped-up charges in Moldova. He can no longer walk and is considered a political prisoner.
The OSCE delegation in Tiraspol opened the door to civil society representatives worried about the fate of a political prisonerTIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - A year ago, civil society youth group "Breakthrough" was met with a closed door when they tried to talk to the Tiraspol-based office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE. Not anymore.
The door was opened during the civil society group's latest visit to the 56 member country OSCE and the group's representatives spoke to OSCE staff while delivering their letters asking for the organization's help in freeing Ivan Burgudji, a persecuted human rights activist who is kept as a political prisoner in Moldova.
" - We hope that Louis O’Neill, the head of OSCE Mission in Moldova, will hear our request, our call for support, and that he will help liberate this innocent person," said Alena Arshinova, head of Breakthrough ("Proriv", in Russian).
" - Ivan hasn’t been able to move by himself recently."
Political prisoner Ivan Burgudji before his arrest. Today, the Gagauzian human rights activist can not even walk.
- Brought to court on a stretcher
On 8 June 2007, during one of his few court appearances in Chisinau, Ivan Burgudji had to be brought into court on a stretcher. Unable to walk from what his lawyer described as torture, he was tried for imaginary crimes while lying down and unable to face the courtroom standing.
" - Ivan Burgudji can’t even move without the help of others. His life is in danger," said Breakthrough.
Ivan Burgudji is an ethnic Gagauz, from the Turkish Christian minority in southern Moldova. A longtime political leader of the Gagauz, he has advocated increased autonomy for his people to the irritation of Chisinau's central authorities.
He has frequently been arrested on trumped-up charges. During his previous arrests, both the OSCE and the U.S. Department of State have spoken up on his behalf.
- 12 year sentence in 30 minutes
Gagauz minority human rights activist and political prisoner Ivan Burgudji was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a court in Chisinau on 22 June 2007. Nominally charged with misuse of state funds, the real reason for his arrest is related to his activities on behalf of the Gagauz autonomy. No solid evidence of his alleged misdeeds was ever produced during the trial, and regional Gagauz authorities supported him and proclaimed his innocence to no avail.
" - The public prosecutor asked for 12 years. Iorgov Steleanna, the judge, left the court hall for 30 minutes and then returned with a verdict that had been prepared beforehand. They gave 12 years to Ivan," said Ivanna Petrovna Burgudji, Ivan Burgudji's wife.
" - There were no Gagauzian representatives in the court. Formuzal, the head of Gagauzia, met with Ivan in the morning, before the court. Lena, a girl from OSCE, was also present at the session."
" - Ivan felt very bad at the previous court appearance, on June 8. He was brought in on a stretchers in front of my eyes. He can neither sit or lie down," said his wife.
See also:
» Civil society seeks a voice in settlement dialogue
» Moldova political prisoners kept in jail with no trial
» Human rights activist jailed in Moldova; radio station silenced
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Reaching out to Moldova for friendship and cooperation, Transdniester's Parliamentary Speaker wants to open direct channels of communication with the neighboring country. Yevgeny Shevchuk seeks dialogue with Moldova's Parliamentary Speaker to solve a series of shared problems faced by both sides. However, it is out of the question to give up Transdniester's 18 year old de-facto independence.
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