Document - Moldova: Further Information on Freedom of expression and assembly/ Possible prisoners of conscience

PUBLIC AI Index: EUR 59/004/2009

17 April 2009

Further Information on UA 96/09 (EUR 59/002/2009, 9 April 2009) Freedom of expression and assembly/ Possible prisoners of conscience

MOLDOVA Oleg Brega (m) (spelling corrected) ]

Ghenadie Brega (m) ] civil society activists

Natalia Morari (f) ]

Police detained Natalia Morari on the evening of 13 April and told her that she was suspected of organizing mass public disorder and attempting to overthrow the state. She was released an hour later, and charged the following day with "organizing mass disorder" (Article 285), which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment. The court ordered that she be kept under house arrest for 10 days while awaiting trial.

Ghenadie Brega was charged with the same offence on 7 April. He is at liberty awaiting trial.

Oleg Brega has not been charged with any offence, but police raided his apartment on the evening of 9 April. They removed material relating to the NGO Hyde Park, including video archives and a wireless modem.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Romanian, Russian or your own language:

- expressing concern that Natalia Morari andGhenadie Brega have been charged with serious criminal offences for organizing a peaceful demonstration, of which they had notified the authorities;

- pointing out that if they are convicted of these offences, and jailed for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, Amnesty International will consider them prisoners of conscience;

- urging the authorities to drop the charges againstNatalia Morari andGhenadie Brega.

APPEALS TO:

Prosecutor General

Valeriu Gurbulea

26, Mitropolit Banulescu-Bodoni Str., MD-2005, Chişinǎu

Republic of Moldova

Fax: +373 22 21 20 32

E-mail: procuror@gov.md (corrected)

Salutation: Dear Procurator General

COPIES TO:

Minister of Internal Affairs

Gheorghe Papuc

Stefan cel Mare Bld., 75, MD-2012, Chişinău

Republic of Moldova

Fax: +373 22 22 2723

E-mail: mai@mai.md

Salutation: Dear Minister

Parliamentary Human Rights Advocate

Anatolie Munteanu

Centre for Human Rights in the Republic of Moldova

16 Sfatul Tarii Str., MD-2012, Chişinǎu

Republic of Moldova

Fax: +373 22 22 54 42

Salutation: Dear Parliamentary Human Rights Advocate

and to diplomatic representatives of Moldova accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 29 May 2009.