Trans activist and journalist Alex Shah has shared on social media that they were subjected to transphobic treatment, harassment, and unlawful detention by police officers at Chișinău Airport.
According to Shah, passport control officers mocked their name and appearance, made insulting remarks in Russian, called them random names, and deliberately misdirected them to wrong rooms. Around 10 officers reportedly gathered, laughed at them, and made fun of them.
Shah stated that police unlawfully held them for nearly two hours and confiscated their passport. They were taken to the office of the airport’s chief of police, where they were asked intrusive personal questions and interrogated about their journalistic and political activities.
Police allegedly justified their actions by citing a “mismatch” between Shah’s passport name and appearance, as well as their young age and activism. Shah, however, described this as clear transphobic and discriminatory behavior.
The activist called on local human rights defenders and activists for support to take legal action regarding the incident.
