VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCH #0023/01 0151310
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 151310Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8782
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000023 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE, DRL/IRF, INL-JCAMPBELL 
JUSTICE FOR OPDAT-CNEWCOMBE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2020 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF PINR KDEM MD
SUBJECT: PROSECUTOR FINES MENORAH-PROTESTING 
PRIEST, RE-OPENS INVESTIGATION 
 
Classified by: CDA Marcus Micheli for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d) 
 
REF:  09 Chisinau 0958 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  In a January 12 meeting with the 
Charge, Prosecutor General Valeriu Zubco argued 
that Moldovan law gave him no choice but to fine, 
rather than charge with a crime, the Orthodox 
priest who desecrated the Jewish menorah on 
December 13 (reftel).  However, based on a 
previously unconsidered article in the Criminal 
Code sanctioning "deliberate actions...aimed at 
inciting national, racial, or religious hostility 
or discord," Zubco's office has reopened its 
investigation, while the Ministry of Justice 
continues to examine whether to deregister the NGO 
headed by the priest.  The GOM, which quickly 
condemned the incident, has pressed the Moldovan 
Orthodox Church (MOC) to take steps to sanction 
the priest.  END SUMMARY. 
 
"No Violence and Destruction, No Crime" 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) We met with Prosecutor General Zubco the 
day after his office announced that it was fining 
Anatolie Cibric, the priest who led the anti- 
Semitic demonstration against the menorah, 600 lei 
(the equivalent of about $50).  While noting the 
immediate public condemnation by the Acting 
President, Prime Minister, and Minister of 
Justice, among others of the anti-Semitic 
incident, we stressed to Zubco how important it 
was that the GOM take this case seriously. 
 
¶3. (C) Zubco introduced Vasile Pascari, the 
prosecutor in charge of the local prosecutor's 
office dealing with the case.  Pascari said that 
the police officers had recommended that only 
administrative action be taken, and the 
prosecutor's office had agreed after their 
investigation.  Both Pascari and Zubco stressed 
that the crucial issues under Moldovan law were 
that the menorah was not physically destroyed and 
that no violence was used by the demonstrators. 
Showing photographs taken during the 
demonstration, Zubco emphasized that that the 
menorah had been dismantled (not destroyed) and 
transported to another site peacefully.  He also 
stressed that, without the destruction of the 
menorah, which would have qualified for the 
criminal offense of vandalism, and without 
evidence of intent to destroy and incite to 
violence, no Moldovan court would support a 
conviction under Moldova's Criminal Code. 
 
¶4. (C) Zubco said that therefore, based on these 
facts, the PGO was only able to charge Cibric 
under a statute in Moldova's Administrative Code 
dealing with "the violation of religious 
sentiments and the profanation of an object of 
religious reverence."  Zubco said his office had 
imposed the maximum possible fine (600 lei), 
which, while not much for an American, was for 
many Moldovans the equivalent of a month's pay. 
Cibric already was appealing his fine, he added. 
Zubco also noted that he had discussed aspects of 
the case with the ministers of Justice and 
Interior.  He also said that the Minister of 
Interior was investigating the fact that police 
officers had stood by when the demonstrators 
removed the menorah. 
 
Zubco Says Priest's NGO Being Investigated 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (C) Zubco also stressed that the prosecutor in 
the case had been in close contact with the Jewish 
community, and was aware that the story would have 
"echoes" in Washington during the upcoming visit 
of PM Filat and Foreign Minister Leanca.  He 
assured us that the Ministry of Justice was now 
investigating Cibric's NGO and his church, and 
would shut down the NGO if it were determined to 
be inciting violence.  Asked whether certain 
symbols could be considered incitements to 
violence, he noted that the Ministry of Interior 
 
determines on a case-by-case basis whether a 
symbol or image constitutes such incitement. 
 
Foreign Minister Regrets Inadequacy of Moldovan 
Law 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶6. (C) In a January 13 meeting, Deputy Prime 
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Iurie 
Leanca emphasized to Charge that the GOM strongly 
condemned the December 13 incident and was 
committed to preventing repeats.  He said he 
understood that the 600 lei fine would be heavily 
criticized and agreed that the punishment did not 
fit the seriousness of the incident. 
 
¶7. (C) However, Leanca said, per the PGO, the GOM 
was constrained by weak Moldovan laws in this 
area.  This inadequacy would need to be addressed. 
Leanca added that the GOM had reached out to the 
Jewish community, and that the investigation by 
the Ministry of Justice was continuing.  He also 
said that the GOM had contacted the Moldovan 
Orthodox Church (MOC), urging its leadership to 
take steps to rein in Cibric.  (Note:  In a 
December 18 website posting, the MOC stated that 
it disagreed with the methods used in the December 
13 protest, but considered that it was inopportune 
to place a Jewish symbol in a park named for King 
Stephen the Great, who is a saint in the MOC, and 
during a holiday -- Chanukah -- that celebrates 
the victory of Jews over non-Jews.  End note.) 
 
Prosecutors Reconsider Case 
--------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Shortly after this January 13 meeting, we 
found Article 346 of the Moldovan Criminal (as 
opposed to Administrative) Code, which states that 
"deliberate actions...aimed at inciting national, 
racial, or religious hostility or discord...shall 
be punished by a fine...or by community service 
for 180 to 240 hours, or by imprisonment for up to 
three years."  When we contacted Prosecutor 
Pascari later that day, he seemed surprised and 
conceded that he had not considered this Article - 
- he repeated that he and his colleagues had 
reviewed the case only on the basis of what the 
police had presented.  He did note that, in light 
of our January 12 meeting, Zubco had ordered him 
to initiate an additional review of the Cibric 
case, and said he would review Article 346. (Note: 
We also sent the Article to contacts in the MFA 
and the Prime Minister's office.) 
 
¶9. (C) We contacted Pascari again on January 14. 
Pascari said that, as a result of their 
reevaluation of the case, the PGO had reopened its 
investigation of Cibric's statements and actions, 
as well as those of his associates, to determine 
whether charges could be brought under Article 
¶346. 
 
Jewish Community Divided 
------------------------ 
 
¶10. (C) We also contacted representatives of the 
Jewish community for comment.  Chief Rabbi 
Abelski, head of the Orthodox synagogue in 
Chisinau, told us on January 13 that he had not 
been following developments, and while condemning 
Cibric's "barbaric" act, he also stated his 
disapproval of the "non-religious Jews" who had 
"acted irresponsibly and chosen the wrong place" 
to install the menorah.  He refused comment on GOM 
actions or any aftermath of the December 13 
incident. 
 
¶11. (C) Alexander Bilinkis, co-chair of the 
Association of Jewish Organizations 
(www.jewish.md) and one of the organizers of the 
menorah dedication, told us on January 14 that he 
was unhappy with the GOM decision, but even 
unhappier with the MOC, which took no measures 
against Cibric.  Bilinkis praised Minister of 
Justice Alexandru Tanase as a strong supporter of 
the Jewish community, but conceded that under 
Moldovan law it would "not be easy" for Tanase's 
 
Ministry to deregister Cibric's NGO. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶12. (C) While Moldovan law may well turn out to be 
inadequate in addressing hate crimes such as the 
December 13 incident, the lack of awareness of 
Article 346 appears to highlight the lack of 
institutional capacity of the Prosecutor General's 
Office.  We are heartened by the GOM's strong 
condemnation of the incident and by the fact that 
the investigation into Cibric has resumed (and 
also by the fact that Cibric's NGO recently 
disassociated itself with the priest, suggesting 
that the organization is feeling the heat from the 
authorities.)  We will continue to urge the GOM to 
address the issue, including by amending 
legislation if needed, and are developing 
proposals to improve prosecutorial capacities. 
 
Micheli