Prime Minister Dorin Recean on Thursday paid a working visit to the Vulcănești mayor’s office, where he met with mayors of the districts. The flag of Gagauzia was not placed in the hall where the meeting was held and only the flags of Moldova and the European Union were present, IPN reports.
The incident generated remonstrations. The mayor of Vulcănești Nicolae Posmac was accused of "betraying" the Gagauz people. The Government’s representative explained that the flag of the European Union is a protocol action, specifying that the removal of the flag of the autonomous unit was not requested.
Comrat municipal councilor Ivan Panea, a member of the pro-Russian bloc "Victory", expressed his indignation. He noted that the flag of Gagauzia was removed from the hall „according to protocol”.
The head of the Vulcănești district administration Ivan Cretu made accusations against the mayor, noting that by this gesture "he humiliated him and betrayed the Gagauz people".
"If you wanted to set up the flag of the European Union, you should had found the right place for it and, by doing so, not demean us, all the inhabitants of the town," said ex-mayor of Vulcănești Victor Petrioglu.
The Government’s spokesman Daniel Vodă commented on the post published by Ivan Panea, of the pro-Russian bloc "Victory": "Don't bring shame on you and don't lie! There was no such instruction. According to the protocol, the flags you see are set up where there is the Prime Minister. The flag of the Republic of Moldova and the flag of the autonomous unit, according to the law, are placed in front of a building and on the building itself."
The Speaker of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia Dmitry Constantinov said that he will seek explanations from the autonomous unit’s representatives who were present at the meeting.
