A number of persons in a news conference at IPN announced that they created an initiative group that will fight the illegalities committed when constructing attic-like apartments in Chisinau. The members of the group called on those who want to join them.

Tatiana Gogu, a member of the initiative group, told the journalists that public debates on the new regulations concerning the construction of attic-like apartments took place on June 13, but civil society found out about them post-factum. Though the local authorities initially said that the prepared bill is only a work variant, they now propose including it in the agenda of the June 27 meeting of the Chisinau Municipal Council.

Svetlana Buianovscaia, who is also a member of the initiative group, said that one day she and her neighbors found out that attic-like apartments began to be erected on their house without anyone informing them about this. She said that she is afraid for her life and the life of her children because the house is damaged and may collapse under the weight of the attic-like apartments. The dwellers stopped the building works and now go to court to ask banning the construction.

According to Valentina Singhirei, the studies carried out showed that the eight-story building in which she lives will not resist if attic-like apartments are built on its roof. However, the construction works started without the consent of the majority of dwellers. Valentina Singhirei said the association that will be registered soon – “Surprise Attic-Like Apartments”- aims to conduct awareness raising campaigns to inform the people about the risk posed by such apartments built on damaged houses. The association will also cooperate with representatives of other NGOs in this respect.

Vitalie Voznoi, a member of the public movement “My Dear City” that supports the initiative of the Chisinau residents, said a Moldovan complained to the ECHR that his rights were violated by the construction of attic-like apartments. This is the first case of the kind submitted to the High Court.

The initiative group of the association “Surprise Attic-Like Apartments” demands that the authorities allow building such apartments only after all the dwellers of the block give their consent. It also pleads for the institution of punishments for the contractors that commit illegalities in this area.