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In Tiraspol, family grieves at the anniversary of the Ilascu group's murder of PMR independence politician Nikolai Ostapenko

CHISINAU (Tiraspol Times) - One of the two last remaining members of the "Ilaşcu group", Andrei Ivanţoc, completed serving his sentence and has been released from prison in Transdniester. Originally convicted for his involvement in two murders, Ivanţoc served 15 years and often portrayed himself as a political prisoner or prisoner of conscience because the murders were politically motivated. They took place in 1992 as part of the Moldovan-initiated war to stop Pridnestrovie's independence.

Like other members of his group, Ivanţoc is a Moldovan nationalist in favor of unification of Romania and Moldova, including Transdniester. The group which he belonged to advocated use of violence to achieve its goals, with its leader publicly declaring that this aim necessarily had to include the murder of pro-independence PMR officials.

Released on the border with Moldova, Ivanţoc was taken away in a car of the Moldovan Interior Ministry driven by the deputy of the Moldovan reintegration minister, Ion Stavila. Although his wife Eudochia was in the car, he tried to open to door and escape back into Transdniester. As reported by the Associated Press, he had to be forcibly bundled into a car which then left for Chisinau at a high speed. There was no explanation for why Ivanţoc preferred to stay in Transdniester rather than with his wife in their home in Chisinau.

In good health: Andrei Ivanţoc, released after serving his murder sentence, does not want his case to become politicized (file photo)

No public statements

After the border incident, Moldovan government officials took Ivanţoc - apparently against his will - to his home in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau where he underwent medical examinations. Doctors declared that Ivanţoc suffered no injuries and that his blood pressure was normal.

He is currently with his wife, Eudochia, in their home in Chisinau and has refused any public statements to the press. He does not want his case to become politicized, or used for propaganda purposes for or against any of the sides in the dispute over Moldova, Romania and Transdniester.

Respecting his wishes, Moldovan authorities chose to make no official statements for the time being regarding Ivanţoc’s release. According to Mediafax, Tiraspol has declared Andrei Ivanţoc persona non grata and banned him from returning to Transdniester.

Ivanţoc and fellow inmate Tudor Petrov-Popa, who is to be released on June 4, are the last remaining detainees of the "Ilaşcu group", sentenced to prison 15 years ago over terrorist acts during the 1992 independence war. The acts included the murders of two state officials of the newly-born Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica (PMR), which Ivanţoc and the others members of his group considered illegitimate and therefore fair game.

Two other members of the group have already been released: Ilie Ilaşcu was set free in 2001, and Alexandru Leşco in 2004. The remaining prisoner, Tudor Petrov-Popa, is due to be released in two days.

In 1993, after Moldovan forces retreated, the four members of the Ilaşcu group received highly controversial sentences for war crimes and terrorism, including involvement in two politically motivated assassinations of pro-independence leaders. According to evidence presented at the trial, the militant group planned and executed the 1992 killings of guardsman Alexander Gusar and independence politician Nikolai Ostapenko.

Each year, on the anniversaries of the politically-motivated killings, survivors and family members of the victims hold candlelight vigils. Wearing black, and carrying the photos of their lost ones, they condemn war and terrorism and ask for a peaceful solution to the conflict and Pridnestrovie's long-held wish for independence from Moldova. (With information from Mediafax)

See also:
» Moldova wants early release of Ivanţoc and Petrov-Popa [1]