HUMAN RIGHTS IN MOLDOVA HH RR MM The Turbulent Dniester A Division of Human Rights Watch HHHUMAN RRRIGHTS IIIN MMMOLDOVA The Turbulent Dniester March 1993 Helsinki Watch A Division of Human Rights Watch 485 Fifth Avenue 1522 K Street, NW Suite 910 New York, NY 1001710017----61046104 Washington, DC 2000520005----12021202 Tel: (212) 972972----84008400 Tel: (202) 371371----65926592 Fax: (212) 972972----09050905 Fax: (202) 371371----01240124 Copyright 8 March 1993 by Human Rights Watch. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Library of Congress Card Catalogue No.: 92-75041 ISBN 1-56432-089-8 Helsinki Watch Committee Helsinki Watch was formed in 1978 to monitor and promote domestic and international compliance with the human rights provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. The Chair is Jonathan Fanton; Vice Chair, Alice Henkin; Executive Director, Jeri Laber; Deputy Director, Lois Whitman; Staff Counsel, Holly Cartner; Research Associates, Erika Dailey, Rachel Denber and Ivana Nizich; Associates, Pamela Cox, Christina Derry and Aleksandr Petrov. Helsinki Watch is affiliated with the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, which is based in Vienna, Austria. Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch is composed of the six divisions, Africa Watch, Americas Watch, Asia Watch, Helsinki Watch, Middle East Watch, and the Fund for Free Expression. Executive CommitteeCommittee: Chair, Robert L. Bernstein; Vice Chair, Adrian W. DeWind; Members: Roland Algrant; Lisa Anderson; Peter D. Bell; Alice Brown; William Carmichael; Dorothy Cullman; Irene Diamond; Jonathan Fanton; Jack Greenberg; Alice H. Henkin; Stephen L. Kass; Marina Pinto Kaufman; Jeri Laber; Aryeh Neier; Bruce Rabb; Harriet Rabb; Kenneth Roth; Orville Schell; Gary G. Sick; Robert Wedgeworth. Staff: Executive Director, Aryeh Neier; Deputy Director, Kenneth Roth; Washington Director, Holly J. Burkhalter; Associate Director, Gara LaMarche; California Director, Ellen Lutz; Press Director, Susan Osnos; Counsel, Jemera Rone; Women's Rights Project Director, Dorothy Q. Thomas; Prison Project Director, Joanna Weschler; Arms Project Director, Kenneth Anderson. Executive Directors Africa Watch Americas Watch Asia Watch Abdullahi An-Na'im Juan E. Méndez Sidney R. Jones Fund for Free Expression Helsinki Watch Middle East Watch Gara LaMarche Jeri Laber Andrew Whitley TTTABLE OF CCCONTENTS Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................................................................iii Map of Moldova...........................................................................................................................................................................................................iv Notes on Geography and Demography..........................................................................................................................................................v Introduction....................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Chronology of the Conflict..................................................................................................................................................................4 Recommendations..................................................................................................................................................................................8 To both the Government of Moldova and the Authorities in the Dniester Moldovan Republic (DMR) 8 To the Government of Moldova......................................................................................................................................8 To the Authorities in the DMR.........................................................................................................................................9 To the Government of the Russian Federation.....................................................................................................9 To the Government of the United States .................................................................................................................9 Background...................................................................................................................................................................................................................11 Evolution of the Conflict ......................................................................................................................................................................11 New Social and Political Groupings..........................................................................................................................11 Three Movements for Self-Determination ...........................................................................................................12 Unrest Among the Gagauz............................................................................................................................14 Reactions to Legislation Aimed at Promoting Moldovan Culture..........................................................15 Political Harassment......................................................................................................................................................... 17 Parties to the Conflict..........................................................................................................................................................................18 Moldovan Government Forces.....................................................................................................................................18 DMR Forces.............................................................................................................................................................................20 The Russian 14th Army......................................................................................................................................................21 The "Third Force" ................................................................................................................................................................23 Foreign Involvement.........................................................................................................................................................23 Romania ................................................................................................................................................................23 Russia.....................................................................................................................................................................24 Ukraine...................................................................................................................................................................24 Violations of International Humanitarian Law........................................................................................................................................27 Politically Motivated Killings..........................................................................................................................................................27 Killings Committed Allegedly by Supporters of the DMR............................................................................27 Killings Committed Allegedly by Opponents of the DMR............................................................................29 Attacks on Medical Personnel and Vehicles........................................................................................................................30 Mining ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................31 Bendery ....................................................................................................................................................................................31 Cocieri.......................................................................................................................................................................................32 Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians and Civilian Structures..........................................................................32 Attacks by Moldovan Government Forces...........................................................................................................32 Bendery .................................................................................................................................................................32 Attacks by DMR Forces ....................................................................................................................................................32 Bendery .................................................................................................................................................................32 Slobozia .................................................................................................................................................................33 Cocieri....................................................................................................................................................................34