Over 20 Moldovan policemen suspected of maltreating protesters suspended
Over 20 Interior Ministry (MAI) employees suspected of having maltreated participants in the last April riots have been suspended under an order by the interior minister. The list of names of these people was submitted both to the Moldovan leadership and the Prosecutor General's Office, which investigates the events.
Interior Minister Victor Catan made the statement at a news briefing today.
Victor Catan refused to make public the suspects' names, fearing not to hinder the investigation.
Catan said that law-enforcers' inability to ensure the public order during mass events, prevent the transformation of peaceful protests into violent ones, as well as the cases of torture and maltreatment of the participants in the riots were due to the policies promoted by the former MAI leadership, which excessively politicized the ministry's activity in the interest of the former ruling party.
Victor Catan said that the Interior Ministry's leadership will continue to reform the ministry, including to dismiss the employees who tarnished the image of the law-enforcement bodies. The minister stressed that this should be done in order to restore society's confidence in police.
Moldpres
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