The Nistru war veterans came together again in the Great National Assembly Square of Chisinau on May 31. They asked that the government should resign as it didn’t satisfy their previous demands, IPN reports.
According to protest organizer Constantin Covrig, a member of the National Council “Veterans’ Force”, the veterans want a functional and non-bureaucratic administrative body that would solve their problems and also representatives at the local level. President Igor Dodon during four years in office has done nothing for the veterans.
Earlier, the veterans demanded tickets to the sanatorium once a year, free medicines for veterans and members of their families, free health insurance policy for life, payment of 50% of the cost of public utilities for veterans and members of their families, annual and monthly allowances, retirement at 55 with a pension not lower than the minimum salary and funerals with honors.
The protest was marked by altercations between veterans and the police. The first tried to break the police cordon that blocked the road to Parliament and that didn’t allow a car with two speakers. As a result of discussions, the speakers could be used. Later the veterans said the police and the carabineers committed abuses.
The veterans announced that they will continue the protests if the authorities do not satisfy their demands and will mount a large-scale demonstration in August, with the involvement of mates who are now abroad.
After the last protest staged by the veterans in the central square of Chisinau on May 17, in a news conference at IPN the veterans said the police resorted to intimidation, threats and violation of the right to protest peacefully.
In a press release, the police said the protest was held based on a preliminary statement filed to the Chisinau City Hall. The altercations happened because the statement said nothing about the use of equipment and vehicles at the protest. Police officers were ordered to examine the truck with the improvised stage and protesters at that moment forced the cordon formed by carabineers.
The police also said that the organizers violated the National Extraordinary Commission for Public Health’s decision saying that the assemblies cannot involve more than 50 persons. Also, most of the participants in the protest didn’t wear protective masks and didn’t maintain social distancing. The illegalities committed during the protest were recorded and documented.
