100 of the most pressing issues in the Republic of Moldova in 2008 Chişinău 2009 CZU[323+338](478) O-10 This publication appeared with the financial support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the IDIS Viitorul and financing institution. Coordinator: Ghenadie Mocanu Authors: Vitalie Grosu Ion Guzun Mihai Şalvir Olesea Cruc Diana Cheianu-Andrei Carolina Ungureanu Descrierea CIP a Camerei Naţionale a Cărţii 100 cele mai presante probleme ale Republicii Moldova în 2008 / Vitalie Grosu, Ion Guzun, Mihail Şalvir [et al.]; coord.: Ghenadie Mocanu; Inst. pentru Dezvoltare şi Iniţiative Sociale (IDIS) „Viitorul”. - Ch. : IDIS „Viitorul”, 2009 (Tipogr. „Reşetnicov P.”ÎI). – 262 p. ISBN 978-9975-9922-4-4 250 ex. 323+338(478) O-10 Cover by: Eugen Novac © The Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDSI) “Viitorul” MD-2005, Chişinău, 10/14, Iacob Hancu Street The Republic of Moldova Tel.: 21 09 32, tel./fax: 22 18 44 e-mail: [email protected], www.viitorul.org 2 Contens: Preface ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Research methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 6 P 1. The abuses towards journalists – a national practice ................................................................................. 9 P 2. Lack of transparency in public institutions ............................................................................................... 11 P 3. Suppressing the political opposition .......................................................................................................... 14 P 4. Informational space dominated by the Russian mass-media ................................................................. 16 P 5. Exercising the pressure of central public authorities towards the administration of Chişinău ........ 19 P 6. Failed identity politics ................................................................................................................................... 22 P 7. The Government’s responsibility limited by the interests of the governing party ............................. 25 P 8. Public Audiovisual politically engaged ....................................................................................................... 28 P 9. Political implication of the religion ............................................................................................................. 31 P 10. The populism of authorities in reform’s realization and evaluation ................................................... 34 P 11. Financing political parties – between transparency and electoral fights............................................. 37 P 12. Modifications of the Electoral Code drawn into the electoral fight ................................................... 40 P 13. Crisis of politic relations with ATUG – source of national instability ............................................... 43 P 14. (Non) Reformation of the security sector ............................................................................................... 46 P 15. Inefficient parliamentary control .............................................................................................................. 49 P 16. Inequality of citizens ................................................................................................................................... 52 P 17. Continuous violation of fundamental rights of Republic of Moldova’s citizens from the left side of Nistru .................................................................................................................................................................. 54 P 18. Torture and ill-treatment ............................................................................................................................ 57 P 19. The right to the qualitative education ...................................................................................................... 60 P 20. Religious discrimination ............................................................................................................................. 64 P 21. Freedom of press and access to the information ................................................................................... 67 P 22. Freedom of meetings and expressing opinions ...................................................................................... 71 P 23. Violation of the right to double citizenship ............................................................................................ 74 P 24. ECtHR cases – violated rights and millions lost .................................................................................... 77 P 25. Justice and the attitude of Magistrates ..................................................................................................... 80 P 26. Employment of order forces and law bodies as political instrument ................................................. 83 P 27. Police practice .............................................................................................................................................. 86 P 28. Conditions within penitentiaries and institutions for preventive detention ...................................... 89 P 29. Restricting property declaration of public functionaries....................................................................... 92 P 30. Continuously ignoring Decisions of the Court of Accounts ...............................................................94 P 31. High level of corruption ............................................................................................................................. 96 P 32. Financing and non-transparent utilization of public finances.............................................................. 99 E 1. Inflation VS exchange rate ....................................................................................................................... 102 E 2. The deficit of the trade balance – new records ..................................................................................... 106 E 3. The real estate market in Moldova, threatened by the crisis ............................................................... 108 E 4. Livestock sector in a deep coma .............................................................................................................. 110 E 5. European prices for natural gases ........................................................................................................... 112 E 6. The increase of external debts of Moldova - a reason to be concerned ........................................... 114 E 7. “The cement crisis” – a warning for the future .................................................................................... 116 E 8. Moldova is transforming from a country that exports agro-alimentary products into a net importer one ........................................................................................................................................................................ 118 E 9. The currency market “overheated” by the money coming from abroad .......................................... 120 E 10. Agriculture in Moldova – at the level of the one from the Europe of 70’ ..................................... 122 E 11. Huge damages, provoked by summer inundations ............................................................................ 124 E 12. The deficit of a qualified labor force - an acute problem for Republic of Moldova .................... 126 E 13. Panic on the sugar market ...................................................................................................................... 128 E 14. NBM registers huge losses ..................................................................................................................... 130 E 15. The investment image of Moldova ....................................................................................................... 131 E 16. The impact of the financial crisis on Republic of Moldova .............................................................. 133 E 17. Moldovagaz playing the part of a scarecrow ....................................................................................... 136 E 19. Falling-off at the Moldovan stock exchange ....................................................................................... 138 E 20. The cost of managing taxes .................................................................................................................... 140 3 E 21. Termocom vs. Mayoralty – the war of tariffs ..................................................................................... 142 E 22. Insufficient investments into the road infrastructure ........................................................................ 144 E 23. Diesel oil prices – a new strike upon farmers ..................................................................................... 146 E 24. Obscurity of electric energy imports from Ukraine ........................................................................... 147 E 25. Enormous losses of the municipal budget due to irresponsible decisions of the MCC .............. 149 E 26. The effects of draught from 2007 are felt until the summer