"OLVIA-PRESS"

THE DNIESTRIAN FEMIDA IS BLIND JUST AS IT SHOULD BE.

Since 2000, the DMR ministry of justice takes part in judicial hearings against public associations "Power to People. For Social Justice", "LKSM (Lenin's Komsomol Union of Youth - note of the translator) of Tiraspol", and the party "People's Party". In a suit that ministry of justice had sent to the court, it was stated that activity of given public associations was directed to undermining of the DMR statehood and against its sovereignty' it was a rough violation of the DMR Constitution. Leaders of these public associations - Radchenko, Buchatski, and Harzhan - beginning with 2000, without being squeamish about any methods, fight against the ministry of justice. Trying to cause sympathy towards them, these co-called "patriots", hold press conferences in Kishinev and pour out negative and unauthentic information about the DMR authority into pages of the Moldavian official press. In their speeches and publications they also deliberately distort position of the DMR ministry of justice, and call in question the idea of independence of the Dniestrian republic.

Dniestrian journalists expressed perplexity long ago regarding patient silence of the state dignitaries position of whom was anyway garbled by the above-mentioned statesmen. In order to clarfy the situation and inform public about real order of things, on September 13^th, the DMR minister of justice Victor Balala held a press conference with representatives of mass media. Representatives of the DMR public associations took part in its work and acted as witnesses at the given trials.

As the minister of justice explicitly said to journalists, the main reason of accusations against the given public associations of their anti-constitutional activity and reason of the ministry of justice's claims on their ban was the fact that during the electoral campaign to the RM parliament these public associations had unconditionally (that is, without any explication and conditions) supported the electoral program of the Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova, where there was clearly mentioned the course directed to liquidation of the DMR. Victor Balala emphasized, "The very first regulation of that program comprises the statement about reconstruction of the united integrate Moldova. And in conformity with the RM Constitution it means liquidation of the Dniester Moldavian Republic.

But these public associations did not only approve the Communist Party program. They became accomplices of a planned provocation of the Moldavian authority. By means of mass electoral agitation, they were trying to attract as many RM citizens living in the DMR territory for support of the RM CP program and thus for liquidation of the Dniester Moldavian Republic.

Besides, as Victor Balala said, the given public associations, having voted for the RM CP, thus contributed to coming to power of those who then introduced economic sanctions against the DMR.

Victor Balala defined more accurately that "the Ministry of justice by no means makes political prosecution. If parties or public associations violate legal norms and state interests, they will be banned regardless of their orientation - rightist or leftist. One should respect laws and the state where you live".

Victor Balala informed the journalists that the trial against the party "People's Power" was over. But the party intended to protect its interests in the DMR Supreme Court where it had taxed a cassation complaint. As for the public association "Power to People. For Social Justice", the DMR Supreme Court considered the case and took decision to send it back to the court to first location for repeated hearing. Victor Balala expressed confidence that this trial would be won by the ministry of justice.

There is a specific situation with the "LKSM of Tiraspol". Despite the fact that on November 23^rd 2001 there was carried out a trial decision about ban of that organization, and on December 4^th 2001 it took effect. That is, it does not exist already as a public person and organization, however its leader Oleg Harzhan keeps bowling the public out with declarations and addresses on behalf of the organization, liquidated over 6 months ago. Since preventing measures do not act, by words of Victor Balala, the ministry of justice sent a letter to the prosecutor claiming to clarify: on what grounds Oleg Harzhan was acting on behalf of the non-existing organization.

This organization was banned not only because of unconditional support of the RM CP program, which, as mentioned, had had statements directed to the DMR liquidation. Representatives of this organization and its leader Oleg Harzhan committed also other violations of the DMR laws. Victor Balala informed that this organization, in conformity with its statute documents, should have acted only on behalf of the town youth. But this organization was named around the 'DMR LKSM', and its leader, having no right for that, acted as a representative of the whole youth of the republic. The next violation of the DMR Constitution was the proposal to create a unite Komsomol organization of the DMR and RM, because the DMR legislation bans activity of parties and public associations of other states in Dniestria.

The DMR minister of justice emphasized, "We are building a legal state and that's why we should demand strict respect of the DMR legislation and Constitution by all citizens and public persons.

I.Letiaga.