The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (IOL) recently published two statements expressing its concern for Ana Ursachi and Botagoz Jardemalie, both lawyers and human rights defenders, from Moldova and Kazakhstan, respectively.

The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (IOL) recently published two statements expressing its concern for Ana Ursachi and Botagoz Jardemalie, both lawyers and human rights defenders, from Moldova and Kazakhstan, respectively.
Year in and year out, Moldova cannot shake off the shackles of corruption, oligarchy, and selective justice. International partners expressed their readiness to render assistance to the country in carrying out the necessary reforms, but they have faced sabotage and inactivity
A Moldovan court has sanctioned the arrest of counsel Ana Ursachi. The court session was carried out in the absence of her defenders. The authorities engaged a public defender in the judicial process, which can be regarded as a way to legalise the court decision
Persecution of lawyers: selected cases from Moldova, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan
On 12 October, 2017, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) signed a written declaration entitled “International obligations of the Republic of Moldova and risks for its credibility abroad”.
Recent abuses of INTERPOL by non-democratic states, such as the Red Notice issued by Turkey to detain Mr Doğan Akhanlı in Spain and other relevant cases in Russia, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, show why the reforms introduced by INTERPOL should be implemented decisively and without delay
Against the backdrop of growing public discontent with the current government, the political regime in Moldova is becoming tougher. The powerful oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc has monopolised the influence on the state authorities and, currently, he controls law enforcement agencies.
Against the backdrop of growing public discontent with the current government, the political regime in Moldova is becoming tougher. Opposition activists and human rights activists increasingly frequently face politically motivated criminal prosecutions.
The result of our intense current work at Council of Europe in Strasburg: “Written declaration Moldova: political oppression against civil society and key witnesses” signed by 23 members of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe!
Mid-December 2016 was a period of intense work on the support of the civil society in Moldova. With a group of its prominent representatives we held series of high-level meetings in the EP as well as PACE to discuss the country’s political and human rights problems.
As the Open Dialog Foundation, we would like to thank you for your support during the past year and wish you all the best in your professional and personal life in 2017! On this occasion we would like also to share with you some of the ODF’s top achievements of the year 2016.
Notwithstanding its obligations, the Moldovan government has clearly deviated from the democratic course it claims to be following and from its duty to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.
Counsel Ana Ursachi represents the interests of numerous opponents of the powerful oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc who exerts influence on the judiciary and law enforcement agencies of Moldova and may be involved in her unlawful criminal prosecution.