1408. According to the information received, on 11 April 2007, Chisinau City Council banned the Moldovan Pride parade, organised by Information Center GenderDoc-M, on the grounds that it could pose a public disorder threat, that it would promote sexual propaganda and that it would undermine Moldovan Christian values. The event was due to take place in Chisinau city between 27 and 29 April 2007 and was planned as part of the Council of Europe’s “All Different, All Equal” campaign. In February 2007, the Supreme Court held that the City Council had acted illegally in banning the event in 2006. According to reports, the Parade was prohibited on two previous occasions. On 28 April 2006, the office of the General Mayor in Chisinau, Moldova rejected an application by the Information Center GenderDoc-M to hold a peaceful demonstration in Chisinau on 5 May 2006. The purpose of this demonstration was to support the adoption of legislation barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. The reported reasons for the rejection of the application were based on “the statements of religious organisations that they will organise protest actions if the demonstration organised by GenderDoc-M is allowed, and also based on letters of complaint from individuals living in Chisinau.”

1409. Furthermore, on 16 May 2005 the office of the General Mayor in Chisinau, Moldova reportedly rejected an application to hold a peaceful demonstration in Chisinau to support the adoption of legislation based on sexual orientation. It was also reported that in June 2005 this decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal in Moldova. Concern was expressed that the above events were related to the activities of Information Center GenderDoc-M in defence of human rights, in particular its work in defence of the rights of sexual minorities in Moldova.

Link to full text of the report: Summary of cases-SR Human Rights Defenders-2008-eng