Members of the team of the fugitive politician Ilan Shor on Thursday went to the Central Election Commission (CEC) to register an initiative group for the organization of a consultative referendum on the country\u2019s foreign policy course and status of neutrality, IPN reports.<\/p>\n
Shor\u2019s team came accompanied by persons who during short periods of time blocked Vasile Alecsandri St. Later, the people were dispersed to the sidewalks by police officers. The participants carried placards with words written mostly in Russian and chanted \u201cReferendum!\u201d.<\/p>\n
In front of the crowd, mayor of Orhei Pavel Verejanu said that in the last protests staged, the issue of neutrality was more often raised. The people are those who should decide the country\u2019s course. \u201cToday, with the initiative group, we will register the people\u2019s wish \u2013 to collect signatures in favor of a referendum,\u201d stated the mayor.<\/p>\n
For his part, the head of Orhei district Dinu \u021aurcanu said that the meeting to constitute the working group was held at the house of culture of Orhei on June 4. The citizens should answer the questions: \u201cDo you support the continuation of the processes of integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European Union?\u201d and \u201cAre you for maintaining the status of neutrality of the Republic of Moldova?\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u2018The people should participate directly and should be consulted about major issues, while the referendum is the supreme and most important form of democracy when it goes to the building of the rule of law and the country\u2019s future,\u201d noted Dinu \u021aurcanu.<\/p>\n
Contacted by IPN for details, CEC secretary Alexandr Berlinschii said the Commission has 15 days at its disposal to examine the submitted documents and in a public meeting later will decide whether to register the initiative group or not. If a decision favorable to the applicants is taken, these will be issued with lists for collecting signatures in favor of the referendum.<\/p>\n