Statement of the Association of Russian-Speaking Journalists of Moldova on the arrest of P. Grigorchuk The Association of Russian-Speaking Journalists of Moldova is deeply concerned by the detention of our colleague Paul Grigorchuk, chief editor of the website Grenada.md, and the opening of criminal proceedings against him under Article 284 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova, “Creating and leading a criminal organization.” We believe that Grigorchuk was arrested for political reasons, and the case against him was fabricated. As an activist in the Communist Party (PCRM), and then as organizer and chair of the Social Forum of Moldova (CPM) and member of the anti-fascist youth organization Antifa, Grigorchuk sharply criticized the government in publications, on the website Grenada.md, in the Bulletin of the Social Forum of Moldova, in social networks and during protest rallies. His activities drew the attention of law enforcement officials on the eve of the Nov. 30 parliamentary elections, when one of the ruling parties put forward the slogan “stop extremism,” and its leaders began to openly threaten a “Moldovan Maidan” if the electorate made the wrong choice. Interpreting the slogan literally, police started looking for extremists in the opposition. In November, the apartment rented by Grigorchuk in Chisinau was searched twice. And while nothing was found but a computer, mobile phone and leaflets that CPM activists handed out on the streets, the opposition journalist was detained three days before the election, on Nov. 26. There is every reason to believe that the real reasons for the arrest and detention of Grigorchuk are his political views and activities. We believe that the accusation that he intended to destabilize the situation in Chisinau after the parliamentary elections is groundless, and the journalist was the victim of a “witch hunt” aimed at creating a certain atmosphere in society on the eve of the vote. We fear the revival of political repression in Moldova, including violence against dissenters by initiating criminal proceedings against them, as had been the case in recent history. We consider the direct intervention in political activities by the police and the prosecutor’s office of the court to be extremely dangerous to society and incompatible with participatory democracy. We demand the release of Paul Grigorchuk from custody, an objective and impartial investigation of the charges against him, transparency on the part of law enforcement agencies, and access of journalists to the court hearings. We urge the civil society of Moldova to support our demands. We appeal to international organizations to give due assessment to political arrests in the Republic of Moldova.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 16:24:09 +0000
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