The Government is asked to hasten the publication of the population and dwelling census taken in Moldova two years ago. A group of NGOs made a public appeal to this effect to Prime Minister Pavel Filip, IPN reports.

The signatories say the census was taken in May 2014, but its data haven’t’ been made public yet. “We consider that the period of one year and ten months is excessive and does not justify the inaction of the National Bureau of Statistics as regards the publication of the census results,” says the appeal.

The NGOs also say that the organization of censuses is important for research, marketing and planning activities, while the census results are extremely important for ensuring and checking the legality of such democratic exercises as plebiscites and elections, assessing the risks to national security, etc.

The appeal was signed by 18 NGOs, including the Association of Professional and Business Women, the Legal Resources Center of Moldova, the Association of Independent Press, East Europe Foundation, and the Institute for Public Policy.