Moldova · Chișinău
The April 2009 protests and the investigation into police abuse
After contested elections, violence reached the parliament and presidential buildings and police made mass arrests.
Timeline
- 6–7 April 2009: Election protests take place and some participants loot and set fires in government buildings.
- Following the arrests: A public inquiry finds excessive force by police.
- 2011: The European court finds ill-treatment and an ineffective investigation in Taraburca’s case.
What the records document
The European Court of Human Rights records that some protesters looted parts of government buildings and set fires. A public inquiry found that officers used excessive force. In Taraburca, the court examined injuries sustained by a demonstrator following his detention.
Case outcomes
The European court found violations of the prohibition on ill-treatment and the duty to investigate. Stepuleac concerns a separate prosecution of a protest participant arising out of the same events. European Court of Human Rights · Taraburca