Veaceslav Mulear: Your imprisonment is a problem, first of all, for you, you are being blackmailed with this, and they are taking advantage of your fear.

Veaceslav Mulear: Your imprisonment is a problem, first of all, for you, you are being blackmailed with this, and they are taking advantage of your fear.

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<!– wp:paragraph –>
<p><strong><img src=”https://gdm.md/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2-1-300×300.jpg” alt=”” width=”300″ height=”300″ /></strong></p>
<p><strong>An interview with GENDERDOC-M’s Health Programme Coordinator and the first gay man to take the Police of the Republic of Moldova to court—and win.</strong><strong> In a Moldova where silence was sometimes the only way for LGBTQ+ people to survive, a 22-year-old man chose to speak out. He chose not to accept humiliation, fear and blackmail. He told his story, defended his dignity and, with the help of those who stood by him, opened a path that others can follow today. Veaceslav Mulear now coordinates the GENDERDOC-M Centre’s Health Programme and is one of the community’s most respected voices.</strong></p>
<p><strong>— Veaceslav, what does working at the GDM Centre today mean to you, after everything you have been through?</strong></p>
<p>— I feel that I am in the right place. My past helps me empathise with and understand the problems of those who come to us. I know what they are going through. I can respond with respect and compassion. I can help.</p>
<p><strong>— What were the early 2000s like for a young gay man in Moldova?</strong></p>
<p>— It was difficult. I did not even know there were other people like me. Then, by chance, I spotted a magazine—Zerkalo—tucked away on a shelf at a Moldpresa kiosk. I bought it. I started reading it secretly, when I was alone in my dorm room. That was when I discovered I was not alone in the world. More than that, there were people like me right here in Moldova. But even so, I kept hiding. I even tried having a relationship with a girl to seem “normal”. But we never became intimate. I would invent headaches, stomach aches… I’m gay through and through! (laughs)</p>
<p><strong>— Tell us about the day the police officers blackmailed you.</strong></p>
<p>— I had heard about a meeting spot and went there. Some men approached me who turned out to be undercover police officers. I already knew about cases like this: they would come looking for people to blackmail. They started asking questions, demanded my ID and told me that what I was doing was illegal and that they would tell everyone who I was. They said we should go to a pawnshop to pawn my phone. Then they demanded that I bring them money the next day.</p>
<p><strong>— Did you take action immediately?</strong></p>
<p>— No. It was very difficult for me. But my friends told GENDERDOC-M about my case. Knowing that Natasha (Natalia Ozturk) and Alexei Petrovich (Alexei Marcicov) were standing by me gave me courage. At first, the police told me they did not have the resources to intervene. Then, once the Ministry of Internal Affairs became involved, personnel became available. I went to meet the two officers who were blackmailing me, accompanied by masked officers. The perpetrators were detained. They tried to persuade me not to file a complaint. They would say, “Come on, maybe we can sort this out another way… You’re ruining our families…” But I did not back down. The trial lasted six months. They admitted their guilt. They were dismissed. But for two years afterwards, police officers kept reminding me about it. They would say, “Are you that hedgehog who ruined the lives of two families?” I was handcuffed and taken to the police station, but they could not find anything to charge me with.</p>
<p><strong>— How did you cope with the social consequences?</strong></p>
<p>— People at work found out because I was often absent. They asked me to write a resignation letter. I did. My parents never found out. The community was small and closed, but the people at GDM stood by me. Without GDM, I definitely would not have gone to the police. Filing that complaint was extremely difficult. Today, I am glad that cases like this have become increasingly rare. They have practically disappeared.</p>
<p><strong>— Did this experience change the way you see the police?</strong></p>
<p>— Yes. These days, if you tell them you are from GDM, their tone changes. This case motivated me to stay active and inspire others in the community to be more open. The more you hide, the more vulnerable you are. Your fear is what leaves you exposed. When you say, “Yes, I am!”, the fear disappears.</p>
<p><strong>— What does the award for courage mean to you?</strong></p>
<p>— I am glad. Happy. After so many years of work, having a healthy, informed community is an achievement. Being appreciated motivates me even more. I thank everyone who stood by me, and the entire GDM team.</p>
<p><strong>— Did you consider yourself a pioneer at the time?</strong></p>
<p>— Not during the first two years. I was young and frightened. But later, when I began accompanying other people from the community to the police, I realised it. I had been the first to find the courage to take that step. Going to the police is still difficult today, but back then it was infinitely harder. I am proud of that.</p>
<p><strong>— What would you say to young people in the community today?</strong></p>
<p>— Do not let our rights remain only on paper. Be active, responsible and courageous, and we will always stand by you.</p>
<p><strong><em>We extend our heartfelt thanks to Veaceslav Mulear for his bold ideas, his dedication to equality and his tireless work every day. As Health Programme Coordinator at the GENDERDOC-M Centre, Veaceslav has introduced vital innovations in services for Moldova’s LGBTQI+ community, from rapid testing programmes to psychological and emotional support and personalised prevention. We congratulate him on this well-deserved honour—the Inimi Implicate (“Committed Hearts”) Award—which will be presented to him by the award’s founder, Alexei Marcicov, on 10 June 2025, at the opening of the 24th Moldova Pride Festival, held at the GENDERDOC-M Information Centre.</em></strong></p>
<p><!– /wp:paragraph –></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>