Declaration of Association of Historians on violations of national and international laws by the communist authorities of Moldova

“In the context of mass protests in the Republic of Moldova, generated by the announcement of results of parliamentary elections held on the 5th of April 2009, Communist authorities defied national and international legislation by using extralegal actions of Stalinist type against the peaceful protesters on the 7th of April, such as indiscriminate violence, arrests and torture, resulting in deaths as well as serious physical and psychological traumas.”
“Moldovan government was supposed to calm down the situation in the society, to ensure the public order and undertake all needed measures in order avoiding the outburst of street violence; instead, it used all possible means for aggravating the situation, especially by not adopting in due time the decision to isolate and neutralize violent provocateurs infiltrated within the peaceful manifestation in the front of the Palace of President and Parliament building on the 7th of April. Communist authorities of Moldova favored the worsening of the political situation and projected through state controlled mass media the idea according to which the actions of peaceful protesters to be confounded with those of violent agents provocateurs. This scenario has been encouraged on purpose, aiming at compromising democratic opposition parties as instigators to violence and unconstitutional actions and in order the Party of Communists accumulate as much as political
capital to serve in case another elections would be held. Therefore, the Communist authorities of Moldova have substituted the national interest for the party one and inflicted enormous prejudices for the society, provoked a sharp division of citizens into two artificial antagonist camps, worsened the image of Republic of Moldova abroad and compromised further country’s chances to accede in European Union.
In this connection, Association of Historians of Moldova, which represents the view of the majority of history school teachers, university professors and researchers in the domain, declares:

The condemnation of irresponsible and illegal actions of Moldovan communist authorities, such as encouraging the street violence on the 7th of April through infiltration of provocateurs, including from the ranks of police, amidst the peaceful protesters, using indiscriminate beating, operating arrests and torture against peaceful protesters;

Initiation of trials of those responsible for violation of human rights guaranteed by national and international laws such as the right to liberty, the freedom of assembly, the right to free speech, personal security and fair trial etc.;

Ceasing the use of intimidation toward the youth, high school pupils, students, journalists as well as all those expressing anti-Communist, pro-Western and pro-Romanian attitudes;

Moldovan Communist authorities should give up searching for scapegoats for the deplorable situation in the society, of which they bear the main responsibility, ceasing to make responsible higher education institutions’ professors and schools teachers for the violent street clashes of April 7;

Condemnation as unfounded, illegal and in contradiction to national interests of the Republic of Moldova, its European and international obligations the expulsion of Romanian ambassador in Moldova, introduction of visa requirements for Romanian citizens, prohibition of broadcasting certain TV channels and accusations that Romania supposedly organized and fueled the events of April 7;

Initiation of an international inquiry related to the mass violence perpetrated by Moldova Communist authorities on the 7th of April and afterwards;
Transforming the national TV in a truly public TV channel, giving extended and proportional access to leaders of opposition political parties, NGO representatives to Moldova 1 and radio Moldova and the elimination of Party of Communists’ monopoly on state mass media;

Association of Historians of Moldova asks professors of history, its members and sympathizers to try to be informed correctly and persuade citizens not to be involved in the propagandistic campaign initiated by the Communist regime against political opposition, civil society, Romania, as well as national values and European future of Republic Moldova.”

The Board of Association of Historians:
Sergiu Musteatsa, President, Gheorghe Postică, vice-President; Ion Negrei, vice-President; Gheorghe Negru, Igor Casu, Gheorghe Cojocaru, Mihai Tasca, Maria Danilov, Daniela Vacarciuc, Gheorghe Palade.

Chisinau, April 15, 2009

Dr Sergiu Musteata Associated professor, History Department “Ion Creanga” Pedagogical State University 1, Ion Creanga str., of. 407 Chisinau, Moldova, MD-2069 Phone +373 22 742436 Fax +373 22 719169 e-mail: sergiu_musteata@ yahoo.com