On April 7, 2009 people took to the streets to defend their political rights and freedoms after the communists rigged the parliamentary elections. Protesters demanded the PCRM to leave the government. “We want early elections!” chanted thousands of people gathered at parliament and the presidency. The authorities intervened in force, using police, security and mercenary commandos in disguise. Days and months of terror followed, with police stations turned into terror and death camps.

7 April 2009: lessons learned and unlearned

Ludmila Popovici, Executive Director, RCTV “Memoria”

What was 7 April 2009? A peaceful protest, followed by a mass terror, well directed from the highest cabinets… The murders, the hunting of young people, the torture in police stations were later well camouflaged by so-called “commissions” and “reports”… Hard years followed for RCTV “Memoria”, with pressure and the withdrawal from funding competitions. The victims of 7 April 2009 and their families were silenced. Most of them left the country. In the meantime, legislation has been changed, but to no avail. Cases have been dragged through the courts, making access to justice difficult and discouraging for victims. A ‘Commission for the identification of the victims of 7 April’ has also been set up. But of the more than 500 people who received compensation from the state, only about a hundred were among those tortured by police stations. The other more than 400 were carabinieri and policemen. The representatives of power at the time knew how to hide their tracks, how to cover up their crimes, how to get the torturers off scot-free. No one was punished. Today we are witnessing a different kind of ‘protest’, with former ‘veterans of the structures of force’ as their shield, including some who still have the blood of the victims of 7 April 2009 on their hands.

Ilie Chirtoaca, Executive Director, Legal Resources Centre

Although the events of 7 April 2009 have been condemned by the international community, 14 years on, virtually none of those responsible for the violence have been punished in an acceptable and proportionate manner. The statute of limitations has expired and the officials responsible have escaped with their lives, some even being promoted. Where did it go wrong for the victims of those events? First, the police used excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, resulting in loss of life and injury, physical and psychological trauma that does not heal easily, even over time. Secondly, the elections were subject to fraud, with the authorities ignoring freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and, most importantly, citizens’ right to choose. But worst of all, the victims have had no effective remedy. Even after 14 years, it is important to know the truth, not least to avoid similar situations in the future.

Nicoleta Hriplivy Caminschi, lawyer, Promo-Lex

Although several governments have changed since April 2009, the question remains: who is to blame for the fact that a peaceful protest turned into violence, for the torture of hundreds of young people in police stations and when will those responsible be held accountable?! In 2021 the UN Committee against Torture (UN CAT) asked the Moldovan Government a series of questions about the events of 7 April 2009 and requested information on the measures taken to investigate the 108 complaints about the post-election violence of 7 April 2009. On 5 October 2022 Moldova provided the information requested by CAT, according to which 71 criminal cases had been opened on torture, exceeding official duties and other categories of offences. Subsequently, 10 cases were closed and criminal proceedings were discontinued, and in another 30 cases prosecutors ordered the suspension of criminal proceedings on the grounds that no persons had been identified for prosecution. 27 criminal cases were sent to trial. Convictions are even fewer. To this day, the people who organised, led and participated in the acts of violence and ill-treatment committed in the police stations have not been identified. It has been said that “delay in justice is an injustice”. That is what we are left with – an injustice.