Moldova: UN calls on citizens, authorities to act with restraint amid election protests

The United Nations country team in Moldova has urged the nation’s people to express their dissent peacefully and beseeched the country’s police to show restraint in the wake of violent confrontations following disputed parliamentary elections on 5 April.

Reiterating concerns expressed by the Secretary-General over protests and the destruction of property last week, the team in the European country encouraged “engagement in constructive dialogue” between the parties in a statement issued today in Chisinau, the Moldovan capital.

It stressed that citizens must exercise their rights in a peaceful manner and for their part, authorities must exercise restraint in policing demonstrations and guarantee fundamental human rights, including the right to physical and psychological integrity and the right to freedom of opinion, expression, association and assembly.

“At this crucial moment, those detained in relation to the protests should be accorded their full rights under the law and collective punishment for the acts of a few should be avoided,” the country team said.

In relation to the current review of election results, the country team underscored the importance of transparency and better access to information, which it believes will result in greater “political responsiveness, accountability and social unity.”