Veterans picket Russian Embassy

A group of people representing the National Union of Independence War Veterans picketed on Thursday the Russian Embassy building, requesting the release of the mayor of Corjova village and a councilman, who were arrested on Wednesday by the Transnistrian authorities, Info-Prim Neo reports. “We request the unconditional release of Valeriu Mitsul and Iurie Cotsofan. The commander of the peacekeeping mission represents Russia and he should be a guarantor of the constitutional provisions in the eastern part of the country, including in the village of Corjova, which is under Chisinau's jurisdiction”, stated Eduard Maican, the president of the Union. The Nistru war veterans are also calling on Moldova's acting President Marian Lupu and on international organizations to intervene and release the two detainees. “Many of us veterans are former police or security officers, but also ordinary people, who occasionally met with Transnistrian militia officers. But we have never taken any measures such as arrest against the functionaries from the eastern part of the country. We are aware of the fact that they have children who live or study in Chisinau”, said Anatolie Rusu, a Union member. Valeriu Mitsul and Iurie Cotsofan were arrested on March 2 by the Transnistrian militia, reportedly for displaying a Moldovan flag at a public event.