The Russian Federation is responsible in most cases concerning human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, examined by the European Court of Human Rights. In nearly 22 years, Moscow has been condemned in 46 out of the 65 cases.
The data was presented in a Promo-LEX analysis. According to IPN, experts argue that the information includes all ECHR rulings and decisions regarding the Transnistrian region, pronounced between 2004, when the ruling in the “Ilașcu and others” case was issued, and 2026.
In approximately 71% of cases, the Russian Federation was the only one condemned. In four cases, both Russia and the Republic of Moldova were sanctioned, two cases concerned exclusively Chisinau, and in three cases Ukraine was involved as the third state.
The most frequent violations identified by the ECHR pertain to the right to freedom, inhumane treatment, and the lack of a fair trial. In most cases, people have been detained and sentenced by separatist structures without access to legal courts and without the possibility of a real defense.
The analysis also mentions that the “Sandu and others” case, examined in 2018, remains the largest collective cause concerning the Transnistrian region. This involved over 1,600 farmers from the localities of Doroțcaia, Pârâta, Molovata Nouă, Pohrebea, and Cocieri, who encountered problems in using the agricultural lands on the left bank of the Nistru.
Promo-LEX draws attention to the fact that individuals who have become victims of abuses in the region after September 16, 2022, can no longer file complaints with the ECHR against the Russian Federation, following its exclusion from the Council of Europe.