Tens of minibuses were parked today, October 7, in the Great National Assembly Square in protest at the protectionism ensured by the central state bodies for the project to misappropriate bus stations. The organizers said a monopoly was instituted and the bus stations were turned into facilities for extorting money from carriers. Representatives of the Employers Association of Road Transport Operators ask the authorities to terminate the public-private partnership contract, IPN reports.

The Association’s head Oleg Alexa said that initially the government spoke about the termination of the public-private partnership contract and return of the bus stations under state ownership. However, after Alexandru Vîlcu became one of the beneficiaries of the project, the state representatives’ position changed radically.

“Currently, Alexandru Vîlcu and Gennady Țepordei are laying the basis for dispossessing the transport sector of the complex of buildings called “Central Bus Station” that is situated on an area of approximately 2 hectares in central Chisinau,” stated the protesters.

“The demand is clear – to terminate the public-private partnership contract so that the state manages these stations through the agency of “Gările și Stațiilor Auto”. Surely, there are illegalities, as the National Anticorruption Center determined. There were shortcomings at the bus stations too, but I think the authorities can name persons there to manage the situation appropriately,” said Oleg Alexa.

According to the organizers, no route was suspended today in connection with the protest. Representatives from 28 districts came to the central square of Chisinau with over 100 units of transport. “If the authorities don’t treat us seriously and don’t take the measures we ask, there will be more protesters at the next similar events. It will be probably a day when we will all be here,” stated Oleg Alexa.