Police files criminal case on mass riots during protest in Chisinau

Chisinau, 25 April /MOLDPRES/- Police filed a criminal case on mass riots after clashes occurred during the 24 April protest organized by the Dignity and Truth Civic Platform. Interior Minister Alexandru Jizdan made the statement today.

A number of 17 employees of the law enforcement bodies were injured during the protest, out of which five are in the hospital under medical supervision. At the same time, two citizens suffered after the police used tear gas in order to disperse the crowd.

“Some employees of the Interior Ministry were wounded in the head as a result of hitting with stones, and others are hospitalised with chemical burns in the eye. In this context, a working group was created to investigate all circumstances of the cause and to identify people who assaulted policemen. A person was arrested for 72 hours”, Jizdan said.

“The protests’ organisers are to be invited to police, we will hold talks with them in order to appreciate their role in causing violence during the yesterday’s protest”, he added.

In this case, those who will be found guilty, run the risk from 4 to 8 years in prison.

A large-scale protest took place on 24 April in Chisinau against the government and a decision by the Central Electoral Commission on turning down an initiative to organize a constitutional referendum. The protesters adopted a resolution demanding to urgently set the date of snap polls, held concomitantly with the presidential elections and constitutional referendum.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor A. Răileanu)