Corjova mayor, local councilman arrested by Tiraspol authorities for carrying Moldovan flag

Valeriu Mitsu, the mayor of the disputed village of Corjova on the eastern bank of the Nistru, and Iurie Cotsifan, a local councilman, were arrested by the Transnistrian militia for carrying the flag of Moldova at a religious service in remembrance of those who died in the Nistru war. The information was confirmed by Ion Manole, the chairman of the human rights organization Promo-Lex. He told Info-Prim Neo that Moldova's flag had been taken by force from the hands of the councilman, thrown to the ground and then torn to pieces. The incident involved around 30 uniformed men. A second councilman narrowly escaped arrest after a he was fenced by a group of villager. “I believe it is high time for the authorities (in Chisinau) to adopt the right approach and avoid a situation like it was in the case of Vardanyan, when they backed off and relied solely on political negotiations. Now Chisinau should take very clear and strong steps. First and foremost, we should demand Russia to answer which its role as a mediator and peace-maker really is”, said Ion Manole. Today it is 19 years since the eruption of the military on the Nistru.