The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
CHISINAU, Moldova - A Moldovan journalist has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in the separatist region of Trans-Dniester for spying, Moldovan authorities said Friday, despite international objections that the charges are unfounded.Ernest Vardanean, 30, was arrested in April in the breakaway region and was charged with spying and high treason after television footage showed him saying he was forced to join Moldova's secret service in 2001, while he was studying in the capital Chisinau.
Moldovan officials claim Vardanean, who worked for Novyi Region, a Russian news agency critical of Trans-Dniester's authorities, had been coerced to make the statement.
Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Victor Osipov said his country called on the region to drop the "unfounded accusations" but Vardanean was sentenced Thursday.
Trans-Dniester — which broke away in 1990 over fears Moldova would reunite with neighbouring Romania — fought a war with Moldovan forces in 1992 that left 1,500 people dead. The region is not internationally recognized but is supported by Russia, which has around 500 troops stationed there to guard weapons storage facilities left by the Soviet military.
Vardanean's lawyer Alexandru Postica said he would appeal the sentence, but was not hopeful it would be overturned. He said a complaint about the case has been filed with the European Court for Human Rights.
Trans-Dniester news agency Lenta.pmr said Vardanean would be detained in prison under "a severe regime."
Political analyst Vlad Lupan said there were discrepancies in the TV recording, such as the sound and images being out of synch.
Vardanean was born in the former Soviet republic of Armenia in 1980, and moved to Moldova with his family in 1988.
