Authorities in Moldova's separatist Dnestr region unexpectedly...

Authorities in Moldova's separatist Dnestr region unexpectedly freed a Romanian member of parliament after nine years on 'death row'.Ilie Ilascu, who was granted Romanian citizenship in 2000, was sentenced to death on terrorism charges in the pro-Russian breakaway Dnestr region during Moldova's brief but bloody 1992 civil war. Moldova and Romania have since pressed for his release.Ilascu was sentenced to death in 1992, and held in a Tiraspol jail. He was twice elected to Moldova's parliament during his imprisonment, and after accepting Romanian citizenship was elected to parliament there.May 5, 2001: authorities in Moldova's separatist Dnestr region unexpectedly freed a Romanian member of parliament after nine years on 'death row'.Ilie Ilascu, who was granted Romanian citizenship in 2000, was sentenced to death on terrorism charges in the pro-Russian breakaway Dnestr region during Moldova's brief but bloody 1992 civil war. Moldova and Romania have since pressed for his release.Ilascu was sentenced to death in 1992, and held in a Tiraspol jail. He was twice elected to Moldova's parliament during his imprisonment, and after accepting Romanian citizenship was elected to parliament there.