PROTESTERS PUT FORWARD ULTIMATUM TO NATIONAL TV COMPANY

The opposition’s protest on Sunday concluded with putting forward of an ultimatum to the national television. Its participants gave to the national broadcasting company time till Friday for satisfying their demands. The main of these is to weekly provide to opposition an hour of air time in prime time.

“They need time, we got repeatedly convinced that authorities are slowcoaches. We give them time till Friday so that the public TV channel, which is financed from our money, to satisfy our demands. If this does not happen, we will gather here again next week and will act even more decisively”, said PAS Chairwoman Maia Sandu.

Protest action participants came marching to the TV channel after the rally in front of the Parliament. The police, which accompanied the traffic, immediately blocked the traffic, all along their route. This is why traffic jams occurred in the city. Besides, the city main square was also closed for traffic, as the Bodyguard World Championship was held there.

“Demnitate si Adevar” [DA, “Dignity and Justice”] Party Chairman Andrei Nastase called on the people to take decisive actions to dethrone the authorities and to hold democratic and free parliamentary elections.

“I do not want to spend my life protesting, we should unite to overthrow these authorities. We want a better future for our children in order that parents not to go abroad for seeking better life”, Nastase said.

Fights between protesters and police officer occurred in front of the National Television building. Police officers were trying to drive back the protesters, who were rushing to break into the territory of the TV-center. Two women needed medical assistance after gas cartridges were used against them. The clashes did not last much time, protest participants moved away at the demand of protest organizers.

Rally organizers also said that the police detained a minibus and people, who were accompanying the protest, ensuring speakerphone.

Moldova-1 TV channel Director Ecaterina Stratan, who was appointed about one month ago, came out to protesters.

“Opposition representatives regularly come to our TV channel, we provide them air time. For creating a special TV program, the decision of the Supervisory Board is necessary. We will consider this request”, Stratan said, but was hissed off by protesters.

They stated they demand air time to be provided to opposition leaders immediately. The protest lasted over 5 hours and demonstrators went home only in the evening.