Ombudsperson Mihail Cotorobai, appointed on 3 April 2015, will carry out facts-finding visits in the country’s districts and settlements. The purpose of such visits it to meet with decision makers and groups of persons from a number of settlements in order to introduce himself and get first-hand information on human rights observance.

Yesterday, 9 September, the Ombudsperson carried out his first such visit in Varnita village, Anenii Noi, which is a high security area due to the Transnistrian conflict.

The Ombudsperson got familiar from the source with the working conditions of Ombudsperson's Representative Office in Varnita,  Varnita Health Center and Theoretical High School, met Svetlana Stefaniuc, the secretary of Varnita Local Council and Ala Soroceanu, the head of Bender Probation Service.

Mihail Cotorobai discussed with Veaceslav Ursu, the head of the Ombudsperson's Representative Office in Varnita, issues related to the operation of the territorial office in the security zone and the possibility to enhance its work.

Veaceslav Ursu stated that 110 persons, mostly (86%) from the left bank of Nistru, had contacted this year the Ombudsperson's Representative Office from Varnita. The most common complaints of people from the Transnistrian region and neighboring settlements relate to the protection of the children’s rights, right to citizenship, right to freedom of movement, right to private property, right to work, social assistance and protection, health protection, individual freedom and individual safety, physical and psychological integrity. Besides, 13 petitions on systemic issues related to human rights observance have been reviewed.

The Ombudsperson recognized some obvious outcomes of the Representative Office activity. Thus, following its notifications, the number of complaints on the activity of Varnita Office of Population Registration and Documentation decreased significantly. The Ombudsperson noticed the importance of ensuring an effective activity of Varnita Representative Office, announcing the intention to strengthen it in order to ensure a better functioning.

Mihail Cotorobai discussed with Svetlana Stefaniuc, secretary of Varnita Local Council, the problems encountered by the local authorities from this village in their efforts to ensure observance of human rights.  The Ombudsperson assured that he will make all the necessary arrangements, within his powers, in order to remove the institutional and legislative barriers in this respect. The issue concerning the opening of a Museum of the Ombudsperson in Varnita village, as required by Government Decision No 748 of 20 June 2008 on enhancing the efficiency of CHRM’s work, was also discussed during the meeting. Mihail Cotorobai said that he plans to meet Monica Babuc, the Minister of Culture in order to discuss this subject.

The Ombudsperson discussed with Ala Soroceanu, the head of Bender Probation Service, issues arising during the operation of the mentioned subdivision, given that it operated in the security area.

Mihail Cotorobai appreciated the conditions of the Varnita Health Center as very good, especially given that this institution is provided with medical personnel, equipment, laboratories and even an ambulance, purchased from donations of villagers who work abroad. The doctors from Varnita Health Center informed Mihail Cotorobai that 5000 village inhabitants and over 6000 persons domiciled in the Transnistrian region are beneficiaries of medical services provided by this institution. During his discussions with the health staff, the Ombudsperson underlined the importance to observe the fundamental right to health, expressing this hope that the Office officials will not have to visit the healthcare facility some day in the future in order to review citizens' complaints.

The Ombudsperson also expressed his satisfaction with the state of things found in Varnita Theoretical Lyceum, where 356 children, including 119 from Bender, are studying.  Mihail Cotorobai appreciated the very good conditions at this institution and the fact that it ranks the first in the district in terms of pupils’ performances at the Baccalaureate exams. Valentina Gorobic, the school director, also informed the Ombudsperson that the institution ensured nutrition for all children and transportation of pupils from Bender by a minibus.

Mihail Cotorobai said that the promotion and protection of children’s rights is a priority of the Ombudsperson's Office work, calling for strengthening the good relations between the Ombudsperson's Representative Office in Varnita and the Theoretical Lyceum from the same village.

In Varnita, Mihail Cotorobai visited the place where King Charles XII of Sweden stopped with his troops and where he decreed the establishment of the ombudsperson position over 300 years ago. Today, an obelisk is found on this land, which reminds of the events from 1713 and an Ombudsperson museum will be set up  here according to aforementioned Government Decision No 748.