By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
TIRASPOL, Transnistria – An independent journalist from the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria was arrested in Tiraspol on Wednesday and charged with treason and espionage by the Transnistrian government.
The Transnistrian government is alleging that Vardanean has been spying on behalf of the Moldovan government. In the past, Ernest Vardanean’s writings have often been critical of the federal government of Moldova, as well as the unrecognized government of Transnistria. A notable target of his criticism is Transnistria President Igor Smirnov.
The arrest of Vardanean has brought swift condemnation from a number of international NGOs. The joint statement, which was supported by the Center for Independent Journalism, the Moldovan Journalists’ Union and the Center for Journalist Investigations, declared that “the pressures upon some Transnistrian journalists, including by justice, are not unusual things for Transnistria. We qualify the actions of Transnistrian secrete services as a new act for intimidation of Transnistrian journalists.” The NGOs also called on the governments of Russia and Ukraine to pressure the Transnistrian authorities to release Vardanean.
Moldova’s President, Mihai Ghimpu, also condemned Vardanean’s arrest. Ghimpu suggested that it was undertaken on the orders of Igor Smirnov, who has served as President of Transnistria since it gained its current autonomy in 1991. “Tiraspol wants to remind the world about Smirnov and his self-proclaimed republic.”
Following an insurgency with the Moldovan government in 1990, the breakaway Transnistria region has operated independent of the central government. It is not currently recognized as an independent nation by the United Nations or any nation other than Russia. Unlike the rest of Moldova, the population of this region is largely ethnically Russian.
If convicted of all charges, Vardanean faces up to twenty years in prison.
For more information, please see:
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS – Does arrest signal campaign by breakaway region against pro-Moldovan journalists? – 15 April, 2010
MOLDOVA POLITICOM – Transnistrian journalist Ernest Vardanean accused of treason and espionage – 14 April, 2010
BBC – Moldovan authorities, media worried about arrest of Dniester journalist – 13 April, 2010
JURNAL – NGOs defend journalist Vardanean, arrested in Tiraspol – 13 April, 2010
RADIO FREE EUROPE – Moldova Condemns Arrest of Journalist In Transdniester – 13 April, 2010
RADIO FREE EUROPE – Transdniestrian Journalist Charged With Treason – 12 April, 2010
