CHISINAU, October 23. /TASS/. Several thousand people are taking part in opposition protests in Moldova’s capital city Chisinau demanding early parliamentary elections, a TASS correspondent reported from the site.
People are chanting "Away with [Moldovan President] Maia Sandu!," "Early Elections!." People are marching to the city’s central square. Earlier in the day, the police said that it was planned to organize a fair of local manufacturers on that square and accused the rally organizers of violations. The city’s central districts were cordoned off.
Last Sunday, the police brought down a tent camp organized by the protesters in a park between the parliament and presidential administration buildings back on September 17. Most of the opposition parties accused the pro-European authorities of violating law and establishing dictatorship. Criticism of the Moldovan authorities for these actions was voiced by Western human rights activists as well.
Earlier, the Moldovan government’s emergencies commission, which was set up amid the energy crisis, imposed restrictions on protest actions and mass gatherings, allowing them only for not more than four hours on weekends.
Protests have been held in Moldova since June demanding the resignation of the current leadership. People are protesting against the unprecedented growth of prices for gas and other energy resources and food, and against deteriorating living conditions. The current authorities are also criticized for their reluctance to negotiate gas prices with Russia and for political pressure on the opposition.