What is happening in Moldova represent actions taken against the oligarchs and these actions correspond to the state of affairs in Ukraine, said the governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region Mikhail Saakashvili, who is the former President of Georgia. The official is convinced that the oligarchs in Moldova control the law enforcement bodies, partially Parliament and almost fully the Prime Minister, IPN reports.
Saakashvili was quoted by the Ukrainian press as saying that the goal of the protest movement in Moldova is not to bring the country closer to the Kremlin, even if there are pro-Moscow forces, but to remove the oligarchs from power. “There are always agreements between the oligarchs. The governments are replaced and the Prime Ministers are replaced, while oligarchs’ interests only become stronger. The people take to the streets not in favor of Russia, but against the oligarchs. I think that in principle Moldova’s population is for coming closer to the EU and most of the young people there tend towards the EU,” said the governor of Odessa region.
Two protests organized separately by the Civic Platform “Dignity and Truth” and by the Party “Our Home – Moldova”, led by former Communist Grigore Petrenco, were mounted in Chisinau on September 6. A part of the protesters who were mobilized by the Platform in the central square of Chisinau pitched tents and remained to protest nonstop there. The other protest ended with clashes with the police. A number of police officers were hurt, while eight protesters were arrested.
