The police intervention in the peaceful protest of July16 is a serious violation of the human rights, considers Amnesty International Moldova. The NGO condemns the use of force and of teargas by the police and the arrest of protesters, IPN reports.

In the absence of a legal ordinance on the measures taken at the peaceful protest, this can be considered limitation of the freedom of assembly with bad intention that can be described as disproportional in a democratic society, said Amnesty International Moldova.

The NGO warns the authorities that the prevention of the people from protesting collectively in public should be a last solution based on a convincing, objective and justified need. The unjustified and disproportionate use of force for political purposes by the police is condemnable in a state with the rule of law.

The Constitution of the Republic of Moldova guarantees each person’s right to state their opinion and to freely take part in public meetings, demonstrations, processions or rallies. The use of violence against protesters and their unjustified arrests is not proportional to the public interest to promote the right to freedom of assembly. The authorities should clearly explain the conditions for the limitation of the freedom of assembly, noted the NGO.

The protest mounted by the “Veterans’ Force” movement on July 16 was marked by altercations between the police and veterans. The police escorted nine protesters to the Buiucani police commissariat, invoking that they protested violently and attacked police officers. PPPDA MP Kiril Moțpan said the police caused serious injuries to the protesters and one of those injured is in the hospital in a serious state.