Since the proclamation of its independence, Moldova has paid about €14 million in damages to persons who filed lawsuits at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In 2001 – 2011, there had been passed over 200 decisions against the Moldovan state. Moldova is thus among the top seven countries that were convicted by the ECHR in the largest number of cases. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, the head of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights Stefan Uritu said that most of the cases lost by Moldova concerned the violation of the right to a fair trial and the right to property. The highest number of decisions were pronounced until 2005, when there were tribunals. According to Stefan Uritu, Moldova was often convicted by the ECHR because it is still in a period of transition. “Regretfully, there are many exaggerated delimitations. There are gaps between the powers of two institutions that cannot be filled. The people can endlessly seek justice in the national courts and thus decide to go to the ECHR,” he stated. He also said that a new law has been adopted in Moldova this year. It envisions voluntary admission of the commission of violations. The persons who appealed to the ECHR are suggested to withdraw their applications and resume the trial in Moldova. Stefan Uratu considers the law should have come into force after the reformation of the justice sector. “Moldova must analyze all the aspects and implement the justice reform in accordance with the previous practices and experience,” he said. The head of the Association “Promo-LEX” Ion Manole said that the ECHR convicted Moldova in three cases concerning the Transnistrian region – two in the case of Ilie Ilascu and one in the case of the schools teaching on the basis of the Latin script. In the case of the schools, the ECHR passed an admissibility conviction and a decision convicting Moldova may be pronounced in the first half of next year. Ion Manole said that it is normal for Moldova to be convicted by the ECHR. Any country, even the most democratic one, commits violations of human rights. On the other hand, the people are tired of this transition that has lasted since the 1990s. The largest damages, of €2.5 million, were paid by Moldova in the case of Oferta Plus in 2008, for violating the right to property and the right to a fair trial. According to the Court’s report, 3,850 cases against Moldova were pending on January 1, 2011.