The Union of Carriers and Road Workers and the Association of Private Carriers of Chisinau on May 16 protested at the Supreme Court of Justice against the results of a contest where the private company Dongtur SRL was allotted 12 minibus routes. The protest was taking place in parallel with the hearing where there was being examined the carriers' application, challenging a decision on this case, passed earlier by the Court of Appeals, Info-Prim Neo reports. Ion Mamaliga, chairman of the Association of Private Carriers, said that two years ago one of the municipal councilors managed to illegally organize a tender contest where the existing routes were divided among three participants. The Chisinau Council decided later to annul the results of the contest, but the three companies appealed the decision to the Chisinau Court of Appeals and won the case. “We are concerned because if the Supreme Court of Justice upholds the decision of the Chisinau Court of Appeals, the transport system in the municipality of Chisinau will be seriously affected. 5,000 drivers will remain without work. It is not legal to take a business from somebody and give it to somebody else gratis,” said Ion Mamaliga. “We protest because the first court decided that the routes should be transmitted to Dongtur SRL, which is owned by municipal councilor Oleg Onishchenko. We expect justice to be made because that contest was held behind closed doors and the participants have nothing in common with this area of activity,” said Veaceslav Gaina, director of a transport company. The Supreme Court of Justice decided to postpone the hearing until May 25. The request to put off the meeting was made by the plaintiffs as there were involved new lawyers and new participants. The representatives of Dongtur SRL did not make statements for the press. [UPDATE:] Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Oleg Onishchenko said the accusations made by Ion Mamaliga and Veaceslav Gaina are baseless. He stated he has connections with no public transport company. According to him, Ion Mamaliga and the other transport company directors took part in the contest, but lost it. “Eight companies obtained routes – two that earlier administered routes and six new companies whose bids were better. Some of them already purchased units of transport. As commission chairman, I was entrusted by the Chisinau Municipal Council to organize the contest as the contracts of the working companies expired,” said the councilor. There are about 60 minibus routes in the municipality of Chisinau.