Ombudsman Ceslav Panico: Tiraspol violates fundamental human rights by refusing to accept aid
The Office of the Ombudsman is closely monitoring the situation in the Transnistrian region, which is currently facing an energy crisis due to Gazprom's refusal to supply natural gas to the Republic of Moldova. Ombudsman Ceslav Panico made this statement during an interview with Teleradio-Moldova. This follows accusations from Veaceslav Kosinski, the so-called human rights representative in Transnistrian region, who alleged that the authorities in Chisinau are engaging in "political actions" that violate human rights and could lead to a "humanitarian tragedy." Panico confirmed that he has received Kosinski's letter and intends to analyze its content thoroughly. However, he referred to the language used by the self-proclaimed ombudsman from Tiraspol as "unacceptable."
“Such language used by the so-called institutions on the left bank of the Nistru is unacceptable. We have been monitoring the situation since December. We know the effort made by the Government in Chisinau. At the same time, we will analyze in more detail both the letter and the efforts made and we will request more information from the left bank of the Nistru, to see what violations the so-called human rights protection institutions on the left bank identified more precisely”, the ombudsman told Teleradio-Moldova.
How the energy crisis is affecting prisons, schools and hospitals in the region
The energy crisis has directly affected schools, hospitals and so-called penitentiary institutions in the Transnistrian region, said the People’s Advocate Ceslav Panico. According to him, the detainees in the illegal prisons on the left bank of the Nistru were allegedly gathered in larger spaces, where stoves and other alternative heating solutions are used.
“We have information that, for example, several people were grouped in larger spaces, they are using stoves, alternative heating things. We do not know how long both the wood and these possibilities will be enough, but until then it is difficult to identify more details in this regard”.
Regarding Tiraspol’s ability to ensure residents’ access to medical services, the People’s Advocate, Ceslav Panico, stated that for now there is no clarity regarding the resources, medical personnel and the capacities of the region’s hospitals to cope with the demands. The Ombudsman criticized, in this context, the refusal of the so-called authorities in the region to accept the help of Chisinau, which offered to transfer vulnerable patients and children to hospitals in Chisinau.
“It violates the right to free movement, the right to healthcare. Emergency vehicles should be free, not affected by politics, they should have free access to the region”.
The Office of the Ombudsman also continues to closely monitor the situation in Romanian-language schools in the Transnistrian region, where lessons are mostly held online, due to frequent power outages. Ombudsman Ceslav Panico criticized the obstacles imposed by the so-called Tiraspol authorities regarding the right to education and called for the involvement of the so-called ombudsman from the left bank of the Nistru to facilitate access to humanitarian aid and the resources necessary to ensure school heating, offered by the Government in Chisinau.
“It is regrettable that politics got involved. The lack of access from the Transnistrian region affects the fundamental right to education. The so-called ombudsman from the left bank of the Nistru and institutions should get involved here, to facilitate access or at least the transportation of humanitarian aid, school heating systems.”
Panico said that several organizations provide food services and temporary shelter for citizens in the Transnistrian region. Although according to UN assessments, the situation has not yet reached the level of a humanitarian crisis, the Ombudsman stated that he is continuously monitoring the situation to prevent the crisis in the region from worsening.
