Priests and parishioners protested in front of the Government Building against eventual mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 and eventual discrimination on grounds of presence or absence of the vaccine certificate. They carried placards saying “My body, my child, my decision”, “Where there is compulsoriness, there is no freedom”, “Good is called abuse” and sang prayers in a group, IPN reports.

Elena Bîtcă, of the Orthodox Jurists’ Movement, said Moldova’s legislation does not provide for mandatory vaccination and, if such a provision is introduced, the people will be discriminated and harassed. On behalf of the crowd, she called on the state institutions, primarily their managers, to stop the harassment and discrimination.

Elena Bîtcă voiced hope that the authorities will not amend the legislation to make vaccination mandatory. If this happens, the protests will continue with a different intensity.

Activist Vitalie Ceban said that he is not against vaccination, but he is for the freedom of choice. He didn’t get a vaccine because he is waiting for the testing to see the adverse events in the medium and long runs. He believes natural immunity can ensure collective immunity.

Activist Rodion Gavriloi reacted to the protest on Facebook, saying he got three AstraZeneca doses and feels very well. He noted he was immunized in Iasi first and then got two more doses in Moldova.

The protest organizers submitted a letter with their concerns and demands to the Government and the presidential administration.

In the Republic of Moldova, vaccination is voluntary. Over 1 million vaccine doses have been administered in Moldova so far.