Elderly lying in blood on Government's stairs

Elderly lying on the Government's stairs, their faces bleeding and brutalized by the police. This is the result of an attempt of many members of the “Salvgardare” NGO, and ordinary retired, to siege the Government's building in Chisinau. Some 150 elderly gathered on the Great National Assembly Square on Tuesday to protest again against miserable pensions, soaring prices and day-to-day hardships, Info-Prim Neo reports. “Armed” with loudspeakers, on an improvised floor right in front on the Government's quarters, the meeting participants complain they are forgotten by authorities, while their 600-lei pension is hardly enough to buy bread. Separated in two camps: one criticizing the current government, and the other -- the Chisinau City Hall, the elderly were whistling and making noise, chanting anti-government slogans. Some of them carried posters reading: “Workers, unemployed, youth, unite,” “Government = Creditors Council, No to bankruptcy, Termocom – criminal, to be sued”, “We are not hostages of corruption” and in Russian “We are persecuted for defending our rights”. Salvgardare's president, Maia Laguta, assumes all the responsibility for the event and ultimately demands premier Zinaida Greceanai to approach them in at least 30 minutes, menacing with “tough responses” in case of refusal, not specifying, however. They have not waited for long and headed to the central doors of the Government's building. 10 policemen failed to resist the pressure, and the retired managed to break the live fence, chanting “Down with the Government!” They wanted to penetrate the building. There they were met by a more police and persons in civil clothes who pushed them, as some elderly were noticed to fall on the stairs, bleeding and calling for help. No ambulance was near however, as it should. The pensioners were helped to stand up by colleagues and journalists. Asked by Info-Prim Neo, the head of the municipal police, Iacob Gumenita, has said the police acted strictly according to the law. “The police conscientiously carried out their duties and protected the Government's quarters from the raging pensioners,” he said . When disseminating this news, the pensioners were to form an initiative group to meet the Prime-Minister. Salvgardare was set up in 2005 and militates for the defense of consumers' rights.