Andrei Ivantoc
Encyclopedia
Andrei Ivanţoc is a republic of Moldovan politician. He was among the four leaders (the Ilie Ilaşcu
group, comprising also Alexandru Leşco
and Tudor Petrov Popa) of the Tiraspol
branch of the pro-Romanian Christian-Democratic People's Party
of Moldova who were accused of terrorism
by the authorities of the breakaway Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR).
n unionists, fighting the PMR authorities who controlled most of Transnistria. Ivanţoc was arrested on 2 June 1992 by Russia's 14th Army
stationed in Moldova, and sentenced to 15 years of prison in a trial, which the European Court of Human Rights
considered to be unfairly conducted by the PMR authorities. On 9 December 1993, the Supreme Court of the PMR found Ivanţoc guilty of murdering a representative of the State with the aim of spreading terror, unauthorised use and theft of ammunition or explosives, and assault. He was set free on 2 June 2007. He was maltreated and beaten by the "separatist police" in front of the OSCE members at custom.
The trials in 1993 were considered by human rights groups to be unfair as the accused were allegedly tortured and forced to sign imaginary confessions. In 2004 the OSCE
and the European Court of Human Rights
in Strasbourg
have ruled that the PMR and Russia
should end his detention as well as the detention of the other inmates still held by the PMR authorities.
Ivanţoc became a Romanian citizen in 2001 while in prison, and in March 2005, he was proposed by the Social Liberal Party
as a candidate for the position of President of Moldova
. On 27 February 2006, he started a hunger strike
in protest against the "abusive, inhuman and degrading treatment" he was receiving from the PMR authorities.
On June 2, 2007 Ivanţoc was released by the PMR authorities, after pressures of the international community. After he was released he tried to reenter PMR-controlled territory without permission and was captured and beaten by the PMR security forces, then forced to leave the PMR and declared persona non-grata.
He is a leader of the Democratic Forum of Romanians in Moldova
.
Ilie Ilascu
Ilie Ilaşcu is a Moldovan-born Romanian politician, famous for being sentenced to death by the separatist Transnistrian government for alleged involvement in two murders and for actions which have been described as Moldovan state-sponsored terrorism by Transnistrian government officials.-Political...
group, comprising also Alexandru Leşco
Alexandru Leşco
Alexandru Leşco is a Moldovan activist, famous for being sentenced by the separatist Transnistrian government for actions which have been described as Moldovan state-sponsored terrorism by Transnistrian government officials...
and Tudor Petrov Popa) of the Tiraspol
Tiraspol
Tiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is the capital and administrative centre of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . The city is located on the eastern bank of the Dniester River...
branch of the pro-Romanian Christian-Democratic People's Party
Christian-Democratic People's Party (Moldova)
The Christian Democratic People's Party is a Christian democratic political party in Moldova. In the last legislative elections on March 6, 2005, the party won 9.1% of the popular vote and 11 out of 101 seats. Led by Iurie Roşca, the CDPP and the liberal PNL are the only major political parties in...
of Moldova who were accused of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
by the authorities of the breakaway Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR).
Biography
Ivanţoc was born in Opaci, Căuşeni district, Moldova. He and his three fellow-leaders were pro-RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n unionists, fighting the PMR authorities who controlled most of Transnistria. Ivanţoc was arrested on 2 June 1992 by Russia's 14th Army
14th Army involvement in Transnistria
The involvement of the Soviet 14th Guards Army in the War of Transnistria was extensive and contributed to the outcome, which left the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic with de facto independence from the Republic of Moldova.-Background:...
stationed in Moldova, and sentenced to 15 years of prison in a trial, which the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
considered to be unfairly conducted by the PMR authorities. On 9 December 1993, the Supreme Court of the PMR found Ivanţoc guilty of murdering a representative of the State with the aim of spreading terror, unauthorised use and theft of ammunition or explosives, and assault. He was set free on 2 June 2007. He was maltreated and beaten by the "separatist police" in front of the OSCE members at custom.
The trials in 1993 were considered by human rights groups to be unfair as the accused were allegedly tortured and forced to sign imaginary confessions. In 2004 the OSCE
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
and the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
have ruled that the PMR and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
should end his detention as well as the detention of the other inmates still held by the PMR authorities.
Ivanţoc became a Romanian citizen in 2001 while in prison, and in March 2005, he was proposed by the Social Liberal Party
Social Liberal Party (Moldova)
The Social Liberal Party was a liberal political party in Moldova, led by Oleg Serebrian.At the legislative elections, 6 March 2005, the party was part of the Electoral Bloc Democratic Moldova , that won 28.4 % of the popular vote and 34 out of 101 seats. Inside the Bloc the party won 3 seats...
as a candidate for the position of President of Moldova
President of Moldova
The President of the Republic of Moldova is the head of state of Moldova.-Description of the post:According to the Article 77 of the Constitution of Moldova , the President of Moldova is the head of the State and represents the State and is the guarantor of national sovereignty, independence, of...
. On 27 February 2006, he started a hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
in protest against the "abusive, inhuman and degrading treatment" he was receiving from the PMR authorities.
On June 2, 2007 Ivanţoc was released by the PMR authorities, after pressures of the international community. After he was released he tried to reenter PMR-controlled territory without permission and was captured and beaten by the PMR security forces, then forced to leave the PMR and declared persona non-grata.
He is a leader of the Democratic Forum of Romanians in Moldova
Democratic Forum of Romanians in Moldova
The Democratic Forum of Romanians in Moldova is a civic movement, which brings together over 120 NGOs, several leading public organizations of Moldova and a whole number of academicians, writers, journalists. In 2006, the organization claimed 100,000 members....
.
Video
Interview with Ivanţoc after his release Video showing the incidents on Andrei Ivanţoc releaseExternal links
- THE ILAŞCU TRIAL - White Paper of the Romanian Helsinki Committee - 1992
- The press release of the grand chamber judgment in the case of Ilaşcu and others v. Moldova and Russia - 2004
- US Department of State - Moldova, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2000
- Moldova wants early release of Ivanţoc and Petrov-Popa