Initiative group does not give up idea of having referendum on Russian language

The members of the initiative group for the constitutional referendum on giving Russian the status of second official language say they will do everything possible for the plebiscite to take place, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a news conference on November 22, the head of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia Ana Harlamenko said the decision to hold the referendum is not electoral in character as reported, as it was taken long before the election campaign. Ana Harlamenko and her colleagues consider that the central electoral authority’s decision to shift responsibility for authorizing the collection of signatures in favor of the referendum was a planned political decision. The head of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia stated that they want Russian to have the status of official language not only for allowing the Russian speakers to breathe easily, but also for offering them the possibility of easier engaging in decision-making. The head of “Moldova Mea” Association, businessman Fiodor Ghelici said not Ghimpu, Ghelici or Voronin, but the people should decide whether to give Russian the status of official language and this should be done by referendum. The members of the initiative group also said that Moldova in 1989 lost Transnistria because of the language issue as well and such a situation should not repeat. On November 16, the Central Election Commission sent back the documents submitted to it by the initiative group. The Commission’s secretary Iurie Ciocan said there are two laws that regulate the same procedure from different angles – the Election Code and the law on people’s initiatives. Thus, it is the Parliament that should pronounce on the given case. The Commission advised the initiative group to seek help from the Ministry of Justice.