Moldovan authorities crack down on protestors
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The protesters were marching up to Chisinau's city square when they were intercepted by the Moldovan police.
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People shout anti-government slogans during a protest initiated by the Movement for the People and members of Moldova's Shor Party, against the pro-Western government and low living standards, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, March 12, 2023 (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
A TASS correspondent reported clashes between the police and protestors in central Chisinau in Moldova on Sunday during demonstrations that erupted against Maia Sandu's government and decreasing living standards.
Protestors were chanting against the increased authoritarian measures of the Moldovan government: "Away with dictatorship," "Away with Maaia Sandu" in reference to the current Moldovan pro-Western President.
The protesters were marching up to the city square when they were intercepted by the Moldovan police.
Read more: Moldovan socialists accuse President of authoritarianism
Before rerouting to the parliament building and the presidential residence where they were calling on the Moldovan leaders to come out, the protestors clashed with the police, in an effort to break in through their ranks.
Sor Vadim Fotescu and Regina Apostolova both of whom are opposition MPs as well as the opposition party’s deputy leader Marina Tauber were negotiating with law enforcement officers to allow for the protestors to hold a rally.
Chisinau Moldova 🇲🇩 Anti Nato, Anti Govt 🔥 The people block the Freeways, demanding the immediate resignation of President Sandu who they say is selling them out to Nato and The EU....🔥 pic.twitter.com/QHsIidpXNO
— 𝙍𝙄𝙎𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙇𝘽𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙉𝙀 (@Risemelbourne) March 6, 2023
According to Police reports, Fifty-four protestors, including 21 minors, were detained for demonstrating “suspicious behavior” and holding “prohibited objects” [a penknife and a pepper-spray pellet were confiscated].
The protest organizers accused the authorities of employing fifth-column protestors to dissolve the protests by organizing provocations. Prior to the demonstrations, protest organizers had assured that the demonstrations would be peaceful.
"Today, there have been an incredible number of provocations staged by the authorities and police. They illegally stopped buses with people, but despite this, thousands of protesters are walking to the capital city on foot. Others organized rallies where they were stopped, thus spreading the protests across the country," Vadim Fotescu, a leader of the Movement for the People and a parliament member said.
🇲🇩 Police collect personal details of protesters on buses, headed to the main protest in Chisinau, Moldova.
— SOS-UK-Report (@sosReports) March 12, 2023
In an attempt to intimidate the people - the Moldovan government is seemingly afraid of these old ladies. pic.twitter.com/RGbPFZCSCZ
The demonstrators slammed the authorities for being unable of curbing the spiking prices amid the current unprecedented inflation, which reached an all-time record in 2022 amounting to 30%.
They also called for the resignation of the president and the dissolving of the parliament.
Read more: ≈ 50% of Moldovans dissatisfied with country's political course: Poll
Earlier last year, In February, the Moldovan government had continuously extended the state of emergency under the pretext of the war in Ukraine. In this case, the Commission for Emergency Situations has the ability to intervene immediately and make decisions if deemed necessary.
Back in February, Marina Tauber, vice-president of Moldova's opposition Sor party, accused President Maia Sandu of monopolizing power in the country after the latter had urged the parliament to strengthen the legislative powers of Moldova's Security and Intelligence Service and other law enforcement agencies under the pretext of an alleged Russian coup.
