Prime Minister Maia Sandu has instructed the State Chancellery to prepare a Government decision by which August 23 would be declared the Day of commemoration of the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes. By a 2008 Declaration of the European Parliament, the day of August 23 was proclaimed the European Day of Remembrance of the victims of Stalinism and Nazism. The prime minister called on the population and the media to keep a moment of silence on August 23, at 20.00.

Aurelian Silvestru, the long-time headmaster and the main founder of the Chisinau high school Prometeu, was dismissed from office by order of the other two founders, approved within the Founders Council, at the beginning of July. The high school teachers claim that both the decision to dismiss the headmaster and the organization of the employment contest are illegal due to the absence of the former director who, at the time of his dismissal was on annual leave, and due to the fact that the teaching staff on vacation.

IPN director Valeriu Vasilică writes about “the sudden and covert departure” of the former Democratic Party leader Vlad Plahotniuc, which technically occurred “after a 15-minute conversation with US Ambassador Derek Hogan, held on Vlad Plahotniuc turf, at the DPM headquarters. It is assumed that the ambassador made offers that Plahotniuc could not refuse.” The editorial goes on: “The clash between expectations and reality resulted in a huge disappointment, as huge as his ambitions and self-confidence. A total external defeat of a total inner ambition.”

MP Alexandru Slusari, chair of the bank fraud inquiry commission, says that the former prime minister Iurie Leancă “gave away, for free, 23% of the shares of a bank of systemic importance, which allowed a group of suspicious shareholders to seize control of this bank.” (The comment was written on Facebook, in response to Leancă's statement that an MP may not tell prosecutors who to pursue. Moreover, Slusari says that Leancă did not consult neither with the minister of finance, nor with IMF and World Bank representatives nor with CNA and SIS leadership, who disagreed with the idea of additional share issuance.

MP Oazu Nantoi, of the ACUM/PAS group, says the de-oligarchization process has proved to be much more difficult than it seemed on June 8, when the alliance founding agreement between PSRM and ACUM bloc was signed. According to Oazu Nantoi, Vlad Plahotniuc "took care that some structures of the captive state have a legal cover which would make it difficult for outside interference, including for the noble purpose of purifying the system". He also says that currently the ACUM Bloc parties are at the stage of finding common language with PSRM on a concept for the justice system reform.

President Igor Dodon says that the political agreement between PSRM and ACUM bloc could be signed next week if parties complete the talks on reforms. On domestic policy, the agreement would envisage reforms in the field of justice and concerning the prosecutor's office. The agreement would also forbid party switching. Further, it is proposed to include a “non-aggression pact” ahead of the October local elections.

Sugar manufacturers complain that they are facing unfair competition, as a significant part of the sugar retailed in Moldova, in particular in small local markets, is being smuggled into the country. Further, "Russia blocked us three years ago. Last year the price on the European market reached a record low level, and the producers were impacted ", said a Sudzuker Moldova representative.

Out of 612 public buildings where polling stations are organized only 6 are accessible to people with disabilities, 174 are partially accessible and 432 are inaccessible. The results are included in "Equal access for all to the polling stations" study, conducted by the Central Election Commission and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). "Around 170,000 people with disabilities with the right to vote could vote just like the others, at the polling stations and not at home. The issue that these people are facing is the access to polling stations”, Dorin Cimil, the chairman of the Central Election Commission said at the presentation of the study.

Vasile Diacon won the 70kg category silver medal at the Junior Wrestling World Championships. The 19-year-old was defeated in the final by Ukraine’s Erik Arushanian.


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