"The actions of the law-enforcement agencies are clearly repressive and a demonstration of utter despise for law and the international norms", he said.
Mr. Vasiliev recalled that on February 9 Moldova expelled six human rights protectors-Russian nationals and on February 18 detained 18 foreigners. Among them were 13 Russians. Eleven Russians have been deported from the country and two - the Romaschenko sisters - remained in the pre-trial detention center. According to the Moldovan law-enforcers, they had a large sum of money on them.
"The accusation of contraband for Olga and Yelena Romaschenko is ridiculous. Under the Criminal Code, contraband is movement across the border but the girls were detained in the apartment and there is no connection between their crossing the border with the money", Mr. Vasiliev thinks. He also stressed that anybody's having any amount of money is no ground for accusing him of a crime.
In the opinion of Mr. Vasiliev, the authorities try to use the case as an instrument of political struggle. "They have to prove the women's carrying out unlawful funding of an opposition party. Under the Moldovan Election Code, it is the only reason for removing a party from election race", he said.
In his opinion, the election campaign in Moldova is contrary to the international law norms and the mass media are clearly biased in informing voters of the activities of the ruling and the other parties.
"For an unknown reason, the Interior Ministry and the Information and Security Service play a big role in the election campaign. Not only Russia but the European community and the USA as well have noticed it", Mr. Vasiliev said.
