It was a real referendum in which the citizens showed what they believe about the authorities’ decision to ban letters “V” and “Z” and the ribbon of Saint George, Deputy Parliament Speaker Vlad Batrîncea said, referring to the events held by the pro-Russian parties to celebrate Victory Day on May 9. The executive secretary of the Party of Socialists (PSRM) noted that the authorities tried to scare the people with pressure and fines, but the participants in the Victory Marches didn’t allow to be intimidated, IPN reports.

The Deputy Speaker said that despite the government’s attempts to create the impression that there will be provocations and destabilization on May 9, the events staged by the forces of the left were held in strict compliance with the law.

“The people also marched against propaganda. In response to the government’s pressure, the people came out in a much larger number and were more organized, while the government should know that all the attempts to scare the citizens will have the opposite effect. Some of the citizens already got police reports. We will offer legal aid to all the citizens. This is an attempt to deprive the citizens of their basic rights and we will go to court,” Vlad Batrîncea stated in a program on “Primul în Moldova” channel.

The private individuals who do not comply with the relevant legislation face fines of 4,500 to 9,000 lei or 30/60 hours of community service, while the persons holding responsible posts - of 9,000 to 18,000 lei. Batrîncea said PSRM will do its best to obtain the repealing of this law even if the Constitutional Court rejected the Socialists’ request to suspend it.

“Most of the MPs who voted in favor of this law realized that they made a mistake when they saw that despite their attempts to keep the people inside homes, much more persons took part in the marches. What happened in Chisinau was a plebiscite in which the people expressed their dissatisfaction with the acts of the government that promised democracy and freedom to the people, but only deprives the people of rights and freedoms,” stated Vlad Batrîncea.

The Party of Socialists announced that it will provide legal aid to persons who were fined for wearing the ribbon of Saint George during the festivities held to celebrate Victory Day on May 9. The head of the General Police Inspectorate Viorel Cernăuțeanu said there were already identified over 100 persons who violated the law on banned symbols on May 9 and these will be fined.