A large protest was staged in Chisinau after the court on June 19 invalidated the outcome of the mayoral elections and the seat of mayor of Andrei Nastase. The people gathered in front of the Chisinau City Hall at 5pm, carrying placards with the words “Stolen Vote”, and later marched to the head office of the Democratic Party (PDM), IPN reports.

Mayor-elect Andrei Nastase said the people protest against an oligarchic government that feels its time is coming to an end. He expressed his confidence that if the people combine forces they will manage to stop this arbitrariness. The decision as to who should be the mayor of the capital city was taken by the voters and the election results were recognized by everyone, including independent observers. The foreign partners also expressed their support in favor of the people.

The mayor-elect said he hasn’t yet received the argued judgement of the court. “It was the duty of the court of law to pass a legal judgment and to validate the elections. It yet ignored everything and took a politically motivated decision,” stated Andrei Nastase.

The leader of the Party “Action and Solidarity” Maia Sandu said the citizens should realize the gravity of the situation and that the court’s decision to invalidate the mayoral elections represents dictatorship. “There is dictatorship beyond this red line,” stated Maia Sandu, calling in the people to take to the streets and defend their vote as there is no one else that can protect them. “If we do not defend now the vote in Chisinau, they will do the same in the parliamentary elections and will steal our vote.”

The protesters chanted “Down with the mafia!”, “Be afraid, the people is rising!”, “Down with the mafia!”, “Nastase is the mayor!”, “PD-PSRM, red plague!” and then walked to the head office of the PDM on Bulgara St, where they occupied the whole yard. As this turned out to be too small for them, the people were urged to go to the Great National Assembly Square to protest. The building of the PDM was protected by a police cordon.

The protesters mobilized through social networking sites after the Centru branch of the Court of Chisinau municipality on June 19 invalidated the results of the new mayoral elections held in Chisinau.