Authorities admit acts of torture damage Moldova’s image

The acts of torture significantly prejudice Moldova’s image, consultant to the Minister of the Interior Valeriu Cerba said Tuesday following the participation of the Moldovan delegation in the meeting of the UN Committee Against Torture, which was held in Geneva on November 11 and 12. Valeriu Cerba headed the Moldovan delegation. He said the authorities make effort to reduce the number of acts of torture. “We want to transform the police service from a repression body into a body that will serve the needs of the society.” Governmental agent Valeriu Grosu said among the major concerns expressed in Geneva were the existent legal framework and the situation after the April protests. In this connection, the representative of the Prosecutor General’s Office Eduard Harunjen said the institution has dealt with 105 complaints and opened 32 legal cases over the use of torture by the police during and after the protests. Seven cases have been sent to court.