The elected mayor of Chisinau Andrei Nastase demanded that deputy mayors Nistor Grozavu and Ruslan Codreanu should intervene and stop the works to demolish the Gaudeamus Cinema. He went on an inspection visit to the place following press reports that the building’s roof was taken away, IPN reports.

In a video filmed at the scene, Andrei Nastase says that there are people permanently nearby, including children, but the demolition works are performed without taking the required security measures. “Only several large stones were placed at a distance of 4-5 meters of the building as a marking,” he said.

“Misters Ruslan Codreanu and Nistor Grozavu should come out and clearly say what is all about at  Gaudeamus. If the legal provisions are violated, measures should be taken for those works to be stopped. I call on the police to intervene and check to what extent the law was obeyed when the works to dismantle the roof of this building were launched”.

The elected mayor was informed that the dismantling of the roof started two days ago, in secret. Nastase said he tried for several times to contact officials in charge of the City Hall, but no one answered the phone.

The demolition of the Gaudeamus Cinema on Vasile Alecsandri St was authorized in 2016. Civic activists expressed their dissatisfaction with such decision. The young artists’ association Oberliht launched a petition against the demolition. Members of the association presented a series of arguments in favor of keeping the cinema. These asked to include the building in the Register of Monuments of Local Importance.