On November 4, 2012, on the National Unity Day in the Russian Federation and holiday of Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Yevgeny Shevchuk by his Decree pardoned the citizen A. T. Ursu convicted by Bendery Municipal Court on May 19, 2010.
The decision to pardon was adopted on the basis of appeals addressed to the Head of the State from a number of public and human rights organizations of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, from the family of the convicted, Russian Orthodox Church, and also in connection with the request of the UN Special Representative on Human Rights in Pridnestrovie Thomas Hammarberg and authorities of the Republic of Moldova.
In the address of public organizations, in particular, of the Union of Moldovans of the PMR, it was marked that Moldovans of Pridnestrovie address the Head of the State with the request to pardon not only as Christians and representatives of the national community but primarily as citizens of the multinational state – the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
Social activists also stressed that sincere repentance of the given person and medically confirmed worsening health of A. Ursu can serve as serious grounds for a decision on his pardoning.
