Finnish human rights activist Backman deported from Moldova, banned entry for five years
CHISINAU. May 29 (Interfax) - The Moldovan authorities have deported and imposed a five-year entry ban to Finnish human rights activist Johan Backman, who supports Moldova's federalization and joining the Customs Union.
Backman told Interfax correspondent on the telephone from the Chisinau airport that he was detained by police and told about some violations committed and that he was banned entry to Moldova for five years.
According to the human rights activists, he was in Moldova for several days - earlier in the week he participated in a conference on Moldova's federalization and in a conference on the European integration held in Gagauzia on Thursday. On the way back the car, in which he was driving, he was stopped by police.
Backman said they demanded his documents and took his passport away - police were accompanied by some plain-clothes people, who did not introduce themselves and whom activist considered to be Moldovan special services. According to the Finnish citizen, police told him he should meet with their chiefs and brought him to Chisinau.
The activist said that in an hour he was informed about his deportation and five-year ban on entering Moldova. They explained this with my activities, which undermine Moldova's statehood, Backman said.
