Tens of veterans on May 17 protested in central Chisinau to express their dissatisfaction with the fact that the authorities do not respect the rights and do not offer them the deserved support as they stayed in trenches with arms in their hands during the war and defended the country’s integrity. They risked their life and health to defend the state. The protesters demanded that the government should resign as it took over the illegal schemes from the predecessors. They chanted “Resignation!”, ”Shame!”, “Down with dictatorship!” in front of the Government Building and then walked to the Presidential Building and the Parliament Building, continuing to chant, IPN reports.
Veteran Constantin Covrig told the crowd that at the negotiations with the authorities, the veterans put forward a number of very simple demands, but the arrogance of the state officials made them to take to the streets. “They argue they do not have money, but they have money to build monuments in times of a pandemic and have money to spend on Dodon’s administration – 36 million. They have money to purchase luxury cars and to increase MPs’ salaries by 4,000 lei. They do not have money for us. If they do not have money, what should they do? They should leave! Resign!” stated the veteran.
According to Constantin Covrig, fewer people came to the central square of Chisinau because their comrades were subject to intimidation and following. Moreover, the authorities adopted decisions by which they try to intimidate them, forcing the participants to sign lists.
Nicolae Besedovski, veteran of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the veterans didn’t resort to politics and do not have political messages, but they had to take to the streets because the bandit-like government mocks them. “They imposed restrictions and the people do not have want to eat,” he noted.
Veteran Andrei Eremia said that when he went to war, he was only 20 and fought for this country, laying the foundation of the state, but the authorities regrettably forgot about this. During 30 years the veterans have been humiliated and treated with lack of respect and every time they hear only promises. “The current MPs switch the groups and treat Parliament like a body where they can made money. What did we fight for, to see the state being turned into a bargaining place?” asked Andrei Eremia.
Another veteran said that during the 30 years of independence, the Presidents changed, the governments changed, but the functionaries only enriched themselves and traveled abroad at the people’s expense. They want to further live like this, but something like this should be stooped.
According to another veteran, the people came to tell their sorrows in a peaceful way and the state officials should come out and talk to them.
The National Council of War Veterans was founded at the General Assembly of War Veterans on February 8, 2020. Then the veterans asked the authorities to provide monthly allowances of 3,000 lei to veterans, to parents who lost their children on the battlefield and to widows and orphan children. They also demanded to reduce the retirement age to 55 years, to ensure free medical insurance for life, to provide compensations and exemptions from paying for public utilities and in interurban transport and annual free treatment at sanatoriums. According to them, their attempt to discuss with the Prime Minister and other Government and Parliament functionaries failed.
Under a decision taken by the National Extraordinary Commission for Public Health, public meetings can be held with at most 50 participants, but by observing the public health measures. The organizers must compile epidemiological surveillance lists with the name, surname, identification number, phone number, email address and domicile address of the participants.
