The patent is not a privilege or a luxury. For most of the holders, the patent is the only source of livelihood. If the authorities had had common sense and responsibility, they would have offered something instead before stripping the people of this source, said municipal councilor Ruslan Verbitski, the representative of patent holders.

“The government of good times will go down in the Republic of Moldova’s history as a government of disaster and destruction, a government of the state of emergency and of corruption, a government of the highest prices and inflation rates. The PAS says they go to the European Union, but they go to the EU with Bolshevik instruments, with the limitation of freedom, with decisions taken under the table, without consulting society, by politically subduing the institutions, with pressure exerted on all those who have a differing opinion,” Ruslan Verbitski stated in a news conference hosted by IPN.

According to him, in civilized countries, the governments lay special emphasis on small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. “They make sure that the people have more chances to earn their living by providing useful services to society. The governments take care of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs as the large companies can themselves open the doors or the Government in Moldova, while the small ones cannot. The governments of developed countries do so that the people do not feel ignored by the state and do not take decisions until they are sure that they do not destroy people’s fates,” said the representative of patent holders.

Local and town councilor Olga Chapki, a patent holder, said that they made multiple public calls to the authorities, to the diplomatic corps in Moldova, to the people’s ombudsman. But these calls to defend the human rights were ignored. “It goes to 4,000 patent holders who maintain families, parents and they are ignored,” stated the councilor.

Patent holder Eleonora Țurcanu-Herghelegiu noted that the minister in charge accused the patent holders of resorting to falsehoods, but his statements weren’t confirmed. “He promised concessions, said nice things on social media, but the situation at the local level is disastrous. Our mates are blackmailed, intimidated to purchase cash registers. A part of them complied so as not to be penalized,” stated Eleonora Țurcanu-Herghelegiu.

Patent holder Mirza Amrahov said that all the arguments in favor of keeping trade based on patent were presented, but this type of trade was banned on July 1. The authorities invited them to discussions, listened to them, but didn’t hear them. “I will return to the year 2017, when statistics showed that there were about 20,000 patent holders. Today the minister tells us that there are 4,000 patent holders. The question is, where are the others? According to statistics, the 15,000 renounced the patent and left the country,” stated Mirza Amrahov.

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