Lawmakers of so-called Tiraspol supreme soviet provide themselves life immunity

Chisinau, 28 July /MOLDPRES/ - The so-called supreme soviet (local parliament) of the Transnistrian region has recently adopted amendments to the constitution and amended laws, which provide the lawmakers with immunity not only during their mandate, but also after it.    

According to TASS, from now on, even the former “deputies” could not be called to account criminally and administratively for the actions undertaken during their mandate, without the consent of the legislative body. The lawmakers cannot be detained, arrested or searched, without this agreement.  

Local experts said that these amendments would legislate the life parliamentary immunity. “These amendments will not allow inquiry bodies to undertake certain actions in the case of detaining of a lawmaker at the place of the crime. Also, without the supreme soviet’s permission, inquirers will not be able to interrogate him/her,” a representative of the Tiraspol executive body, Alexandr Kisnicean, said.    

The opposition severely criticized these amendments. “Many of the MPs stay in parliament to defend themselves, defend their business or the one of their masters. And when one violates the criminal code, you need indulgence,” the leader of the Transnistrian Communists, Oleg Khorzhan, said. According to him, the opposition will start collecting signatures to hold a referendum on parliamentary immunity.    

(Editor A. Raileanu)