CHISINAU, October 16. /TASS/. About 60,000 people took to the streets in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau on Sunday to protest at rising prices and performance of the country’s pro-EU government, according to one of the rally’s leaders, Dinu Tsurkanu.
"About 60,000 people convened for the rally in Chisinau," he said.
The rally is taking place on the Stephen the Great Boulevard as police sealed off the access to the main square.
Protesters chant "Down with the government!", "Down with [Moldovan President] Maia Sandu!", "Early elections!", "No to dictatorship!", and set off smoke flares. Parliament members representing the Shor Party and Moldova’s Communist Party are making speeches.
Protests started in Moldova in the summer, taking place in different regions of the country. Protesters accuse the pro-European government of failing to grapple with the economic crisis, rapidly rising prices and falling living standards. Officials are also criticized for their unwillingness to hold talks with Russia to achieve better gas prices and for putting pressure on opposition members, whose leaders were arrested.