PLDM accuses police of preventing protesters from reaching Sunday rally

The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) is accusing the police of obstructing the passage of four buses carrying some 150 persons to a protest rally in Chisinau, organized by the party on Sunday, Info-Prim Neo reports. PLDM leader Vlad Filat has told a news conference on Monday that the buses which left from Sangerei were stopped near the town of Balti, and under the pretext of a “routine control”, the police delayed the passengers for an hour and a half. Filat also expressed his indignation at the passiveness of the police in Chisinau. “The police were obliged to ensure public order and traffic safety during the rally and the march to the Presidential Palace. But they abstained from doing their job and thus exposed over 20,000 citizens to danger”, said Filat. He went on to add that the Moldovan emigrants have been intimidated and threatened with physical violence unless they stopped demanding their right to vote. “It's worse than under Stalin's rule”, declared Filat. He also said that two billboards with PLDM's posters were torn down last night, while another one was vandalized. “It's our message that bothers them so much”. PLDM said they would seek redress in court for “all the illegalities”. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, the press unit of the Ministry of Interiors “categorically” denied any involvement, describing the allegations as “attempts to deliberately discredit the police”. The participants in Sunday's rally, numbering over 20,000 according to the organizers, urged the Moldovan authorities to open additional poling places abroad and thus ensure the right to vote for the Moldovans who will be overseas on election day on April 5.