The ombudsman, Mihail Cotorobai, has had discussions with his counterpart in Tiraspol, Vasili Calico, about the human rights situation in the Transnistria region. The meeting took place on December 29 inst., at the Varnita Office of the Ombudsperson Institution, in the context of strengthening confidence-building measures between the two borders of the Dniester River.

During the meeting, a number of subjects related to the protection of human rights in the Transnistria region, including in the area with increased security regime: the operation conditions of Penitentiary No. 8 of Bender, which has been cut off from the power, water supply and sewerage systemsfor several years; the issues related to the free movement in the Eastern raions of the country; documentation of the population, particularly the orphans.

 Mihail Cotorobai spoke about the need to take measures with a view to improving the situation in Penitentiary No. 8 of Bender and to fighting the torture and ill treatments. In this context, the ombudsperson provided details about the operation of the National Mechanism for Prevention of Torture and highlighted the opportunity for expanding the mechanism to the Transnistrian area as well.

 The ombudsman, Mihail Cotorobai,referred to the activity of the Varnita office, mentioning that 86% of the people who address this office reside in localities on the left bank of the Dniester River. The ombudsperson, Mihail Cotorobai,also mentioned that the Varnita Representative Office of the Ombudsperson Institution has established good cooperation relations with the Transnistrian human rights NGOs.

 Mihail Cotorobai and the ombudsperson of Tiraspol, Vasili Calico,agreed on the need to establish a sectoral working group for the promotion, observance and protection of human rights, in a5+2format.