About 5,000 prisoners will be able to vote in plebiscite

Approximately 5,000 detainees, 70 of whom are doing life, will be able to take part in the September 5 referendum, Info-Prim Neo reports. Three polling booths have been set up at Penitentiary No. 13 in Chisinau. The prison’s head Victor Petrachi said the detainees started to vote early in the morning. 888 of the 926 persons held there are eligible to vote. The persons who did not turn 18, the foreign and stateless prisoners cannot vote. One of the detainees, Valeriu, said the referendum was necessary as the country must overcome the political crisis and follow the road to democracy. “I expect that new laws will be adopted and our country will begin to recover,” said Valeriu. Another prisoner, Ghenadie, said he expects stability in the country as a result of his choice. “I came to vote because I want the country to be freer and to advance. I hope that many things will change in Moldova after the referendum,” said prisoner Ion. Octavian Harabajiu, monitor on behalf of the Communists Party, said there were identified no violations. According to him, 52 detainees voted by 11am. Minister of Justice Alexandru Tanase said special conditions were created for the detainees to vote. He stressed the prisoners should also vote as the state deprived them of freedom, not yet of the right to decide the country’s future. Ballot boxes have been placed in all the 18 penitentiary institutions of Moldova. The prisoners are able to vote following amendments made to the Election Code this June.