Veterans continue to picket Russian Embassy

Members of the National Union of the Independence War Veterans on Friday gathered again outside the Russian Embassy in Chisinau to demand the release of Valeriu Mitsul and Iurie Cotsofan, who were arrested and detained by the Transnistrian authorities on March 2, Info-Prim Neo reports. “Today we submitted an application to the City Hall to authorize our protest, because we aren't doing anything illegal. We also contacted Vadim Cheibas, the secretary of the Moldovan Orthodox Church, asking for the Church's intervention – our brethren were arrested right outside the local church in Corjova, which is under the jurisdiction of the Moldovan Church. If today the authorities fail to react again, we will take other measures” stated Eduard Maican, the head of the Union. As the veterans were protesting, a staffer of the Russian Federation told the protesters that an audience was scheduled for today with Sergei Gorlov, the Embassy's senior counselor, to discuss the issue. Today's rally outside the Russian Embassy brought together veterans from Chisinau and districts closer to the capital. Valeriu Mitsul and Iurie Cotsofan, members of the local administration of the disputed village of Corjova, were arrested on Wednesday for the “illegal act” of carrying a Moldovan official flag at a public event. The event was a homage to the people who died during the Nistru war, and included a religious service held at the village church.