Rent for stairs of National Opera House

The administration of the National Opera House asks 96,000 lei from the local authorities for allowing them to use the stairs of the institution for the festivities that will be held to celebrate the City's Day, the Culture Division head Lucia Culev announced in Monday's meeting of the Chisinau City Hall, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Lucia Culev, the discussion was held earlier last week. The theater's administration said they might impose a rent for the stairs. The deputy head of Buiucani district Victor Anton said he will try to reach an agreement with the director of the National Opera House Valeria Seican. Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca expressed his indignation at the fact that a state-run institution intends to collect a rent for the stairs. He said a tax of 2,800 lei is demanded for using the stairs during an hour. “Instead of sounding the alarm, the deputy head of Buiucani district intends to discuss with the theater's director,” Dorin Chirtoaca said angrily. The mayor said the administration of the National Opera House on September 1 demanded a tax of 9,800 lei per hour from a Student Association and when it did not get the money it fenced the stairs. The police intervened and removed the fence. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Valeria Seican denied the information, saying it is erroneous. She said Lucia Culev shouldn't have exposed a state-owned cultural institution to such an attack. “The City's Day is a holiday of the soul and we must built harmony, not generate animosities,” she stressed. Asked what happened on September 1, Valeria Seican said that in accordance with the law, those who are responsible for an institution must manage it appropriately and collect taxes when companies and public organizations propose paying rent. She also said that some of the high-ranking officials make 'uncontrolled' statements.