Ernest Vardanean
Encyclopedia
Ernest Vardanean is a journalist and political scientist who lives in the breakaway Moldova
n region of Transnistria
. He was arrested on 7 April 2010 by the self-proclaimed forces in Tiraspol
charged of high treason in favor of the Republic of Moldova.
; his family moved to Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic after the 1988 Spitak earthquake. Vardanian graduated from the Faculty of Political Science of the Moldova State University
; he speaks 5 languages; He run in 2005 election
for Parliament of Transnistria, but his campaign failed. He is one of the founders of the Pridnestrovian Armenians Union and is a member of the organisation’s board.
Ernest Vardanian worked for the Russian Internet news agency Novy Region in Tiraspol
. In 2009, he started to work also for the Chişinău-based newspaper Puls, which caused irritation among Transdniestrian authorities. Vardanian was known in Moldova for his often critical reporting on state officials and matters of public interest. Vardanian was selected for a position in the United Nations Secretariat
in 2009.
. Vardanyan's lawyer said his client has been forced to confess to something he did not do (he believes the journalist was forced to make the confession in exchange for a meeting with his wife Irina). His family and friends believe he was forced to confess under pressure.
On April 21, 2010, the European Union
Heads of Mission in Chişinău express their deep concern that the journalist Ernest Vardanian, who was arrested by the Transnistrian security forces, has been denied the basic human rights.
Oliver Vujović
, the Secretary General of the South East Europe Media Organisation, said: "The accusations against Vardanian of high treason due to critical reporting are unacceptable... SEEMO urges the Ministry of Security in Tiraspol to withdraw the charges and the prison sentence. SEEMO would also like to remind the Ministry of Security in Tiraspol that an open media environment, allowing for the free flow of information, is a fundamental principle of any democratic society."
"Reporters Without Borders
reiterates its dismay about Vardanean's detention and treatment and calls for his release. In the meantime, it urges the authorities to allow him to see his lawyer, so that the proceedings can start running along legal lines."
The Committee to Protect Journalists
"calls for Ernest Vardanian’s release": "the farcical footage aired on the local state television proves nothing else but the pressure to which this journalist has been subjected".
"I am asking the High Representative for Foreign Affairs
and the EU Head of Delegation to Moldova
to act urgently for the immediate release of the detained journalist" said Traian Ungureanu in the European Parliament
on May 19, 2010. Another member of the European Parliament, Cristian Preda
, expained: "I would like to say that this action is used by the authorities in Tiraspol to intimidate Chişinău at a time when the new government which took office after last year’s elections
would like to move closer to the European Union
and also resolve the Transnistrian conflict. I am calling for the immediate, unconditional release of the journalist Ernest Vardanian, and I urge the authorities in the self-proclaimed Republic of Transnistria to make a move towards Chişinău in order to resolve the conflict there."
Ernest Vardanean and Ilie Cazac were visited on August 4, 2010 in jail by the head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
's mission to Moldova, Philip Remmler. Ilie Cazac, 24, was arrested by Transdniester police on March 22, 2010 in his hometown, Bender
, on charges of spying for Moldova.
At the beginning of August 2010, civil activists in the Armenian city of Gyumri
have started to collect signatures demanding the release of Vardanyan.
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
n region of Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
. He was arrested on 7 April 2010 by the self-proclaimed forces in 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...
charged of high treason in favor of the Republic of Moldova.
Biography
Ernest Vardanian was born in 1980 in Armenia's town of GyumriGyumri
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 168,918 , is the second-largest city in Armenia.The name of the city has been changed many times in history...
; his family moved to Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic after the 1988 Spitak earthquake. Vardanian graduated from the Faculty of Political Science of the Moldova State University
Moldova State University
The Moldova State University is a university located in Chişinău, Moldova. It was founded in 1946.-Organization:The university is organized into eleven faculties:*1. Biology and Pedology...
; he speaks 5 languages; He run in 2005 election
Transnistrian legislative election, 2005
Parliamentary elections were held in the breakaway republic of Transnistria on 11 December, 2005. They were won by the Renewal, an NGO who, together with their allies, beat long-time President Igor Smirnov's Republic party....
for Parliament of Transnistria, but his campaign failed. He is one of the founders of the Pridnestrovian Armenians Union and is a member of the organisation’s board.
Ernest Vardanian worked for the Russian Internet news agency Novy Region in 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...
. In 2009, he started to work also for the Chişinău-based newspaper Puls, which caused irritation among Transdniestrian authorities. Vardanian was known in Moldova for his often critical reporting on state officials and matters of public interest. Vardanian was selected for a position in the United Nations Secretariat
United Nations Secretariat
The United Nations Secretariat is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and it is headed by the United Nations Secretary-General, assisted by a staff of international civil servants worldwide. It provides studies, information, and facilities needed by United Nations bodies for...
in 2009.
Reactions to Arrest
On April 7, a group of armed agents from PMR’s Ministry of State Security arrested Vardanian in front of his home in Tiraspol and has been accused of working for the Moldovan intelligence in Chişinău. On May 11, he was shown on Transdniestrian state television confessing to being a spy. Vardanian said he was recruited by Nicolae Botezatu, an official with the Moldovan Intelligence and Security Service, in May 2001 when he was a fourth year student at the Chişinău universityMoldova State University
The Moldova State University is a university located in Chişinău, Moldova. It was founded in 1946.-Organization:The university is organized into eleven faculties:*1. Biology and Pedology...
. Vardanyan's lawyer said his client has been forced to confess to something he did not do (he believes the journalist was forced to make the confession in exchange for a meeting with his wife Irina). His family and friends believe he was forced to confess under pressure.
On April 21, 2010, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
Heads of Mission in Chişinău express their deep concern that the journalist Ernest Vardanian, who was arrested by the Transnistrian security forces, has been denied the basic human rights.
Oliver Vujović
Oliver Vujovic
Oliver Vujovic or Oliver Vujović, , also in some sources written Oliver Vujović, is the Secretary General of the South East Europe Media Organisation - officially written South East Europe Media Organisation, and a former journalist.* 2000 - Present: Secretary General of the South East Europe...
, the Secretary General of the South East Europe Media Organisation, said: "The accusations against Vardanian of high treason due to critical reporting are unacceptable... SEEMO urges the Ministry of Security in Tiraspol to withdraw the charges and the prison sentence. SEEMO would also like to remind the Ministry of Security in Tiraspol that an open media environment, allowing for the free flow of information, is a fundamental principle of any democratic society."
"Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
reiterates its dismay about Vardanean's detention and treatment and calls for his release. In the meantime, it urges the authorities to allow him to see his lawyer, so that the proceedings can start running along legal lines."
The Committee to Protect Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
"calls for Ernest Vardanian’s release": "the farcical footage aired on the local state television proves nothing else but the pressure to which this journalist has been subjected".
"I am asking the High Representative for Foreign Affairs
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is the main co-ordinator and representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy within the European Union...
and the EU Head of Delegation to Moldova
Delegation of the European Union to Moldova
The Delegation of the European Union to Moldova was established to facilitate relations between Moldova and the European Union. It is located in Moldova's capital, Chişinău.- History :...
to act urgently for the immediate release of the detained journalist" said Traian Ungureanu in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
on May 19, 2010. Another member of the European Parliament, Cristian Preda
Cristian Preda
Cristian Preda is a Romanian political science professor, and author of several books in this field. He is currently a Member of the European Parliament, representing Romania.-Education and academic career:...
, expained: "I would like to say that this action is used by the authorities in Tiraspol to intimidate Chişinău at a time when the new government which took office after last year’s elections
Moldovan parliamentary election, July 2009
- Pre-election developments :The country's parliament, elected months earlier, was dissolved by president Vladimir Voronin on 15 June 2009, after it had twice failed to elect a new president....
would like to move closer to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and also resolve the Transnistrian conflict. I am calling for the immediate, unconditional release of the journalist Ernest Vardanian, and I urge the authorities in the self-proclaimed Republic of Transnistria to make a move towards Chişinău in order to resolve the conflict there."
Ernest Vardanean and Ilie Cazac were visited on August 4, 2010 in jail by the head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
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...
's mission to Moldova, Philip Remmler. Ilie Cazac, 24, was arrested by Transdniester police on March 22, 2010 in his hometown, Bender
Bender, Moldova
Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992...
, on charges of spying for Moldova.
At the beginning of August 2010, civil activists in the Armenian city of Gyumri
Gyumri
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 168,918 , is the second-largest city in Armenia.The name of the city has been changed many times in history...
have started to collect signatures demanding the release of Vardanyan.