24 November 2011
Russia guilty of violations of human rights concerning men unlawfully detained in solitary confinement in Transdnistria
On 15 November 2011, the European Court of Human Rights issued its judgment in the case of Ivanţoc and Others v. Moldova and Russia, following up on the case of Ilaşcu and Others v. Moldova and Russia.
The case concerned the continued detention of two men in the unrecognised state known as the ‘Moldovan Republic of Transdnistria’ (MRT) for terrorist activities allegedly committed during the Transdniestrian armed conflict of 1991-1992, despite the 2004 Ilaşcu judgment holding that Russia and Moldova should ensure their immediate release. They were ultimately released in June 2007. The current case concerned the men’s continued detention after 8 July 2004 as well as restrictions on contact with their family.
The Court found that Russia has violated Articles 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment), 5 (right to liberty and security), 13 (right to an effective remedy) and 8 (right to respect for correspondence and private and family life). No violations were found against Moldova.
Source: http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int