Interior Ministry picketed for using aggressive methods

The Democracy at Home Movement Monday picketed the Ministry of the Interior, protesting against the use of abusive methods by the police, Info-Prim Neo reports. The protesters referred to an incident that happened last Saturday, when a 16-year-old boy was ill-treated and detained by the Ministry's guard because he wanted to cross a segment of the street that was closed for pedestrians in connection with a visit paid by a foreign official. The Movement's leader Vasile Costiuc, accompanied by several colleagues, demanded that the administration of the Ministry of the Interior prove they protect not intimidate the people. The head of the Ministry's press office Chiril Motpan came out to the protesters, clapping his hands. Asked by a protester what his gesture meant, Motpan said it was a nice democratic event. “You can go on,” he added. As to the Saturday's incident, Motpan said the young man reacted inadequately to the request not to cross the street in that place and the guard were obliged to take measures as it was a maximum security regime. At the same time, he confessed the three police officers exaggerated and could have reacted in a different way. “It was an exceptional case. It does not represent the Ministry's attitude to society,” Chiril Motpat stressed, adding the three officers have been reprimanded. Chiril Motpan also said that the human rights must be observed without violating other rights and that there are also obligations besides rights. The 16-year-old man was released in 20 minutes.