[Article of the series “Year 2012: figures and facts”] [– January 2:] The residents of the villages Parata, Cosnita, Dorotcaia and Pohrebea of Dubasari district picketed the trilateral peacekeeping post No. 9, demanding that the Joint Control Commission and the Government should remove it. The move followed the January 1 incident, when a Russian military man shot dead an 18-year-old man. [–January 2:] About 20 persons, mainly Hyde Park activists, protested in front of the Russian Embassy in Chisinau, demanding withdrawing the Russian army from Moldova’s territory. The protest was staged in connection with the incident at the trilateral peacekeeping post No. 9. [– January 3:] Inhabitants of villages situated in the Security Zone in Transnistria demand expelling Russian Ambassador Valery Kuzmin from Moldova. The demand was formulated in a protest mounted at the peacekeeping post near Vadul lui Voda. The protests continued the next day. [– January 5:] The Liberal Party made an approach to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, asking taking measures so that the Russian Ambassador Valery Kuzmin is recalled. [– January 9:] The inhabitants of the Security Zone resumed the protests, being supported by combatants. [– January 11:] About 400 persons protested in Vadul lui Voda, demanding taking away the peacekeeping post set up there. The protest continued in several days at the Embassy of Russia in Chisinau and in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. [–January 17:] The young wing of the Party of Socialists of Moldova (PSRM) protested against the closure of the Municipal Clinical Hospital No. 4. The “Youth Guard” claimed the rulers wanted to obtain the plot on which the hospital was located and thus decided to close it. [–January 18:] About 20 persons protested in front of the Embassy of Romania in Chisinau against the incident that happened at the Giurgiulesti– Galati border crossing point, where a Moldovan young man was injured from a gun by a Romanian border policeman. [–January 19:] The Party of Communists (PCRM) announced they will stage protests until the Alliance for European Integration resigns. [–January 22:] The Committee for the Defense of Constitution and Democracy announced protests, demanding amending the Election Code, naming five members of the Central Election Commission on behalf of the opposition, and four members on behalf of the ruling alliance, and dismissing Alexandru Tanase from the post of president of the Constitutional Court. [–January 23:] Several dozens of persons who sold products on streets adjoining the Central Market picketed the City Hall, demanding being allowed to work. [–January 25:] The carriers demanded raising the fares on interurban transport by 10% in the first half of the year and by another 10% in the second half of the year. [–January 30:] The Antimafie Movement started a series of protests against the properties of high-ranking officials. About 50 people protested at Codru Hotel. [– February 1:] About 70 persons, members and sympathizers of the PCRM, protested in the hall of the Agriculture Ministry’s building, where the parliamentary commissions hold meetings. After almost an hour of protests, they went to the Government Building. Eduard Musuc submitted a resolution to Prime Minister Vlad Filat, asking that the Alliance for European Integration resign immediately. [– February 4:] The Communist Party called on the Alliance for European Integration to set the date of the early parliamentary elections in April or in May at the latest. The request was made during protests mounted by the PCRM in the Great National Assembly Square. [–February 13:] The Alliance for Orthodox Associations of Moldova requested Prime Minister Vlad Filat to yield up his seat in the Government if he is not able to oppose the Antidiscrimination Law. [– February 15:] The Communist faction boycotted the Parliament’s sittings, arguing that the current legislature lost its legitimacy. [–February 16:] Communist MPs did not present themselves to the first sitting of the spring-summer session. In a communiqué issued earlier, they said they will not attend the sittings because the legislative body was illegitimate and the ruling alliance usurped the power. [–February 18:] The number of participants in the protests staged by the Communist Party increased from Saturday to Saturday, as the organizers said. [–February 22:] Employees of the National Children’s Hospital “Emilian Cotaga” protested against the dismissal of Gheorghe Grosu. [–February 25:] A group of people living on N. Dimo St in Chisinau, supported by the public movement “Orasul meu drag” (“My dear town”), protested in front of their building where attic-like apartments were being erected. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the quality of the construction works. [– March 3:] The joint meeting of the Governments of Romania and Moldova was accompanied by protests. About 50 people formed two groups. One group demanded that Moldova should unite with Romania, while the other group accused the Romanian governors of the difficult situation in the country. [– March 6:] Employees of “Moldcarton” and “Fabrica de zahar Glodeni” protested in front of the Government. After almost three years of protests, they have the same demand: to be paid the overdue salaries for about half a year. They have been waiting the salaries since 2009. [–March 16:] The PCRM staged a protest march. According to the police, the event involved about 7,000 people. [–March 19:] Sympathizers of the PCRM protested in front of the Constitutional Court while the judges were examining the results of the March 16 elections, in which Nicolae Timofti was elected President of Moldova. [– March 21:] Communist lawmakers demand dismissing Head of Parliament Marian Lupu. [– March 22:] About 250 traders came to the Palace of the Republic before the Parliament’s sitting and asked to be allowed to work under patent. [– March 31:] The initiative group “For Moldova” brought a tricolor to the Romanian Embassy in Moldova, saying it was Romania’s flag that was lost by participants in the Union March, which took place on March 25. The protesters asked Romania not to become involved in Moldova’s internal affairs. [– April 2:] Members of the Socialists’ “Youth Guard” brought a set of Bibles to the Palace of the Republic in order to hand them over to the MPs. They wanted to sensitize the lawmakers about the Antidiscrimination Law. [– April 6:] Trade unions demanded that the employees should be paid benefit for the first day of sick leave. [– April 7:] About 30 young sympathizers of the “Democratia Acasa” Party (DA) asked the authorities to say what really happened on April 7, 2009. After three years of the event, they staged a meeting near the monument to Ruler Stephan the Great. [–April 12:] The day started with altercations between the inhabitants of the villages located near the peacekeeping posts in Vadul lui Voda and military men of the peacekeeping corps. The head of Dubasari district Grigore Policinschi said the argument followed a provocation by the Transnistrian servicemen. [–April 19:] The persons living on N. Dimo and Braniste streets in Rascani district filed a collective petition to a number of authorities, including the Chisinau City Hall, whereby they demand stopping the construction of attic-like apartments. [–April 24:] The public organizations “Hyde Park” and “Liubimyi Gorod – Orasul Meu Drag” staged a protest against the construction erected near the Armenian Church. [– May 1:] Several thousand unionists from all the country’s districts protested in central Chisinau on the International Labor Day. They transmitted the message that they want decent jobs and salaries to the authorities. [– May 1:] Hundreds of sympathizers of the Communist Party came together in the square of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova for the second Civic Congress. They sought the dismissal of the government and demanded early parliamentary elections. [– May 1:] The Party of Socialists staged a Social Solidarity March in Orhei. Representatives and sympathizers of the PSRM gathered together in front of the local church and then went to the central square of the town along Vasile Lupu St. According to the party, the event involved about 2,000 people. [– May 16:] An event mounted in Chisinau by the youth wing of the Party of Socialists against the City Hall’s decision to declare May 16 as Mourning Day ended with altercations between the organizers and a group of people who intervened, chanting anti-Russia slogans. [– May 17:] Dozens of people protested in front of the Palace of the Republic before the plenary sitting of Parliament, demanding being allowed to work based on patent. [– May 25:] Church officials prayed in front of the Palace of the Republic, where there was staged a protest against the bill on guaranteeing of equality. [– May 31:] Unaffiliated MP Mihai Godea announced parliamentary strike. He said he will not take part in the vote on bills, and will only put questions. [– June 1:] The drivers working on several minibus routes protested against the penalties imposed by the traffic police. [– June 26:] The law enforcement bodies and the judiciary were accused of irresponsibility in a flashmobbing in front of the building of the Ministry of the Interior. The event was organized by the public association Amnesty International Moldova on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. [– June 27:] Priests from all over the county, accompanied by faithful persons, mounted a protest in Chisinau. They asked the MPs to renounce the electronic recording of personal data and the identification code that replaces the name and surname of the person, the collection of personal data in an automated way, and the forced identification of private individuals. [– June 29:] The Communist faction left the Parliament’s sitting after most of the MPs voted against including a draft decision in the agenda after the hearings on the situation of the press. During the hearings staged on the initiative of the PCRM, the Communist MPs accused the Broadcasting Coordination Council, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology of closing the probate TV channel NIT. [– July 20:] Several residents of Botanica district came to the City Hall to protest after they found dead stray dogs on the street. The protesters brought the bodied of three dogs with them. [– August 5:] The young movement “Youth Guard” together with the Association of Ukrainian Youth of Moldova and the youth organization “Ileri” from Gagauzia protested in Balti against the Union March. [– August 30:] Several dozens of artists of the National Opera Theater “Maria Biesu” picketed the Government Building, expressing their dissatisfaction with the low salaries paid to them. They complained about the theater’s director Valeria Seican, saying their salaries were practically halved since she was invested. [– September 3:] On the National Army Day, representatives of Hyde Park Association protested against the mandatory military service. [– September 4:] More than 100 traders protested in front of the Chisinau City Hall against Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca’s decision to ban trading on the streets adjoining the Central Market. [– September 19:] The “Youth Guard” picketed the Chisinau City Hall, asking Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca to implement the CMC’s decision to change the name of Cuza Voda St into Alexei Belsk St. [– September 27:] The lawmakers of the ruling alliance started the first sitting of the autumn-winter session of Parliament with encouragements and incentives for a better cooperation in the legislative work. The Communist MPs staged a protest in front of the Palace of the Republic, demanding that the legislature fix the date of the referendum on joining the Eurasian Union. [– September 27:] Dozens of minibus drivers picketed the Chisinau City Hall. They attempted to block Stefan cel Mare Blvd., but were hindered by the police. Mayor General Dorin Chirtoaca asked the drivers to return to work and to obey the rules. [– September 27:] An initiative group tried to take own the fence placed in “Kentford” square in Chisinau, where there was to be erected a church. The protesters said the businessman who leased the plot for a 50-year period bribed municipal functionaries and intends to construct not a church, but a mausoleum for all the rich people of the municipality. The construction authoritarian was afterward withdrawn. [– September 31:] About 1,000 trade unionists and employees of the construction sector protested against illegal labor and illegal payment of salaries. [– October 19:] About 1,000 trade union members from the country’s districts picketed the Palace of the Republic, protesting against the rise in the social insurance contribution for employees, as provided by the state social insurance budget law for 2013. The related proposals were later abandoned. [– October 31:] About 1,000 trade unionists and employees of the construction sector mounted a protest march against illegal labor and illegal payment of salaries. In a press briefing on the occasion of the event, the head of “Sindicons” trade union Victor Talmaci said the illegal labor can cause considerable damage to the business community and the building materials industry. [– November 1:] Representatives of 13 NGOs that protect the rights of the HIV-infected persons picketed the Ministry of Health, expressing their concern about the fact that only 30% of the persons who need treatment receive it. [Irina Turcanu, Info-Prim Neo]