[prisoner-rights] Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee publishes report on Moldova

Strasbourg, 26.06.2002 - A report issued today by the Council of Europe's
Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) assesses the treatment of
people held in police establishments, prisons and other places of detention
in Moldova.

The CPT's main concerns are the situation of people deprived of their
liberty by the police as well as poor conditions in prisons; however, there
have been notable improvements in the latter establishments.

The CPT's delegation received widespread allegations of physical
ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty by operational police
departments, mainly during interrogations. In their response, the Moldovan
authorities indicate that police activities are under constant supervision
and that every instance of abuse is severely sanctioned. Concerning the
remand centres of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the CPT requests that
people detained are guaranteed conditions which respect the basic
necessities of life (access to drinking water, sufficient food, adequate
level of hygiene, etc.). The Moldovan authorities highlight their efforts in
this field, but at the same time underline that due to the economic
situation, it is not possible to grant the necessary financial resources.

The CPT welcomes the positive changes observed at Chisinau Prison No. 3 and
in particular the removal of the shutters covering cell windows; as a
result, there was better access to natural light and fresh air. In their
response, the Moldovan authorities also set out the measures taken at Prison
No. 2 and Colony No. 8 for prisoners suffering from tuberculosis in Bender
and at Pruncul Prison Hospital, to implement the CPT's recommendations.
Moreover, they indicate that, following a Government decision of 12 March
2002, the prison system has benefited from an increase in the provision of
food and medication. Nevertheless, the supply of medication remains
problematic.

The material conditions of detention of life-sentenced prisoners, who had
recently been transferred to a special unit at Rezina Prison No. 17, had
significantly improved. As recommended by the Committee, a new instruction
aimed at defining the regime for such prisoners was to be drawn up.

The CPT's report is published with the agreement of the Moldovan
authorities, together with their response. It covers the Committee's second
periodic visit to the Republic of Moldova, which took place in June 2001.

The report is available in French at: www.cpt.coe.int



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