The people who protest in the Great National Assembly Square of Chisinau continued to protest in front of the National Agency for Energy Regulation against the rise in the electric power tariffs on November 10. Dozens of people gathered together before the Agency’s building and chanted “Decrease the tariffs” and “Resignation”, IPN reports.

A group of 11 protesters discussed with the Agency’s director Sergiu Cebotari and tried to obtain answers to their questions. “The rise of over 30% in the electricity tariffs influences the cost price of any product made and supplied in Moldova. This means that we open Pandora’s box. The population will be unable to cope with the successive price rises,” protesters said in the meeting with Cebotari.

Sergiu Cebotari said the tariff increased so much owing to the considerable depreciation of the Moldovan leu. “We endangered the country’s energy security. The rise of 0.42 lei does not depend on the Agency. I understand that it’s hard for the people, but we can remain without electricity and gas otherwise,” he stated.

The protesters submitted a petition with seven demands, among which to withdraw the license of the tick-company Energo-capital, to hold public consultations in accordance with the law and to carry out a complex inspection at all the energy operators with the participation of a consultative council.

Sergiu Cebotari promised that he will examine the petition, but noted that there are no reasons to review the new electricity tariffs.