According
to a report by GenderDoc-Moldova published in 2012, police officers
frequently discriminate against LGBTI
people, and many LGBTI individuals cite difficulty in accessing justice when they are victims of crimes
because the police show more interest in their lifestyles than in the crime
that has been committed. Andrei, was robbed in November 2010.
He
submitted a complaint to the police, but when reporting to the police officer
in charge of his case he found that he was interrogated about his private life,
and the police officers cracked homophobic jokes. In May 2011 when he was again
robbed he was again subjected to insults with reference to his sexual
orientation, and he has received no information about the robbery. Andrei
complained to the Prosecutor General’s Office about the discriminatory
treatment, but has received no substantive response.
According
to Alexei Marchkov, Chair of GenderDoc-Moldova, the general acceptance of
discrimination against LGBTI individuals and stigmatization of homosexuality
combined with corruption in the police mean that gay men are prone to blackmail
and extortion by the police at known gay meeting points. Despite the fact that homosexuality is no
longer a criminal offence, gay men fear exposure, and do not believe that they
are protected by the state.
“In
this country where the police are badly paid it is a catastrophe. They (LGBTI
people) become victims of crime, discrimination, blackmail and even death.” Aleksei
Marchkov, Chair of GenderDoc-Moldova.
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