April 2009 Moldovan parliamentary election protests: Difference between revisions

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	The riot began after the announcement of preliminary election results on April 6, 2009, which showed the ] victorious, winning approximately 50% of the votes. However, final results on April 8 showed that the PCRM garnered 49.48 percent of the vote, gaining 60 parliament seats -- one less than the three-fifths required for the party to control the presidential election. <ref></ref> The opposition rejected the election results, accusing the authorities of falsification in the course of counting the votes and demanded new elections.<ref>, ''Evenimentul Zilei'', April 8, 2009</ref><ref>, BBC, April 8</ref> The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova has been in power since 2001.		The riot began after the announcement of preliminary election results on April 6, 2009, which showed the ] victorious, winning approximately 50% of the votes. However, final results on April 8 showed that the PCRM garnered 49.48 percent of the vote, gaining 60 parliament seats -- one less than the three-fifths required for the party to control the presidential election. <ref></ref> The opposition rejected the election results, accusing the authorities of falsification in the course of counting the votes and demanded new elections.<ref>, ''Evenimentul Zilei'', April 8, 2009</ref><ref>, BBC, April 8</ref> The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova has been in power since 2001.

	An ] report declared the elections generally free and fair, although one member of the observation team, ], voiced concern over this evaluation, stating that it is "difficult to endorse the very warm press statement" from OSCE<ref>, BBC, April 8</ref>, and concluded that she had a "very, very strong feeling" that there have been some manipulation, but she "couldn't find any proof" of it.<ref>, ''BBC'', April 8, 2009</ref> She claimined that the Russians from the organization influenced this report. She also declared that at the numbering of the votes that at 1 o'clock the Communist had 35% of the votes and the 15-16 parties from the opposition 40-45% altogether while shortly later, at 8 o'clock the ~~sitaution~~ changed radically and the communists had 50%. <ref>http://www.cotidianul.ro/emma_nicholson_critica_raportul_osce_referitor_la_alegerile_din_republica_moldova-79833.html</ref>		An ] report declared the elections generally free and fair, although one member of the observation team, ], voiced concern over this evaluation, stating that it is "difficult to endorse the very warm press statement" from OSCE<ref>, BBC, April 8</ref>, and concluded that she had a "very, very strong feeling" that there have been some manipulation, but she "couldn't find any proof" of it.<ref>, ''BBC'', April 8, 2009</ref> She claimined that the Russians from the organization influenced this report. She also declared that at the numbering of the votes that at 1 o'clock the Communist had 35% of the votes and the 15-16 parties from the opposition 40-45% altogether while shortly later, at 8 o'clock the situation changed radically and the communists had 50%. <ref>http://www.cotidianul.ro/emma_nicholson_critica_raportul_osce_referitor_la_alegerile_din_republica_moldova-79833.html</ref>

	There have also been cases of fraud reported by voters, with deceased and nonattendant persons reportedly voting. <ref>http://www.cotidianul.ro/cum_voteaza_mortii_in_republica_moldova-79772.html</ref><ref>http://garda.com.md/stiri/fraude-non-stop-semnaturi-false-in-liste</ref><ref>http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-opinii-5560303-revolta-anticomunista-republica-moldova.htm</ref>		There have also been cases of fraud reported by voters, with deceased and nonattendant persons reportedly voting. <ref>http://www.cotidianul.ro/cum_voteaza_mortii_in_republica_moldova-79772.html</ref><ref>http://garda.com.md/stiri/fraude-non-stop-semnaturi-false-in-liste</ref><ref>http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-opinii-5560303-revolta-anticomunista-republica-moldova.htm</ref>

Revision as of 18:14, 9 April 2009

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2009 Moldova civil unrest
Riots in the capital of Moldova
Location	Chişinău, Cahul, Orhei, and Bălţi, Moldova
Date	April 7, 2009 – present
Injured	270
Perpetrators	Anti-communist demonstrators, including supporters of opposition parties, pro-Romanian and pro-EU activists
No. of participants	Protesters: around 50,000

The 2009 civil unrest in Moldova began on April 7, 2009, in major cities of Moldova (including the capital Chişinău and Bălţi) after the results of the 2009 Moldovan parliamentary election were announced. The demonstrators claim that the elections, which saw the Communist Party win for the third successive time, were fraudulent. In the capital Chişinău demonstrators attacked the parliament building and presidential office, breaking windows and setting furniture on fire. Similar demonstrations took place in other major Moldovan cities, including the country's second largest, Bălţi, where over 7,000 people protested.

Background

The riot began after the announcement of preliminary election results on April 6, 2009, which showed the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova victorious, winning approximately 50% of the votes. However, final results on April 8 showed that the PCRM garnered 49.48 percent of the vote, gaining 60 parliament seats -- one less than the three-fifths required for the party to control the presidential election. The opposition rejected the election results, accusing the authorities of falsification in the course of counting the votes and demanded new elections. The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova has been in power since 2001.

An OSCE report declared the elections generally free and fair, although one member of the observation team, Emma Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, voiced concern over this evaluation, stating that it is "difficult to endorse the very warm press statement" from OSCE, and concluded that she had a "very, very strong feeling" that there have been some manipulation, but she "couldn't find any proof" of it. She claimined that the Russians from the organization influenced this report. She also declared that at the numbering of the votes that at 1 o'clock the Communist had 35% of the votes and the 15-16 parties from the opposition 40-45% altogether while shortly later, at 8 o'clock the situation changed radically and the communists had 50%.

There have also been cases of fraud reported by voters, with deceased and nonattendant persons reportedly voting.

Demonstration, Riot, and Government response

The first demonstrations began in Chişinău on April 6, 2009, with a larger number of demonstrators arriving on the next day, April 7. The demonstration, numbering over ten thousand, mostly students and young people, gathered in the city center, on the Ştefan cel Mare boulevard. The demonstrators organized themselves using online social-networking tools like Twitter and Facebook. The protest against the announced election results turned into clashes with the police, who used tear gas and water cannons. However, the police were soon overwhelmed by the number of the protesters. Demonstrators broke into the nearby parliament building and the office of president. Entering the building through broken windows, demonstrators set parts of the building on fire, using documents and furniture both inside and outside. The building was retaken by the police later in the evening.

The protesters chanted pro-Western, pro-Romanian and anti-government slogans such as "We want Europe", "We are Romanians" and "Down with Communism" and replaced the Flag of Moldova at the Presidential building with a Flag of Romania and a Flag of Europe. A declaration was issued and transmitted from hands to hands. By this, participants declare that they have no political parti pris but they just want to protest against a "totalitarian regime, sustained by fear and terror", ruled by "the ones who killed and deported our parents and grandparents". Economical issues are again addressed, a part of the declaration stating that they "want to work and to be paid in our country" and working in "Italy, Portugal, Spain, Canada or Moscow" is no more a viable solution. Also, they request a Constitutional judgement of the President Vladimir Voronin.

The ambulance hospital of Chişinău reported treating over 78 injured police officers and protesters, while the Moldovan president claimed the far higher number of 270 injuries. Moldovan opposition called on the authorities to carry out new elections, and the demonstrators to stop violence. Moldovan national television had initially reported that a young woman died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to the fires within the parliament building set off by the rioters. However, it was later reported that the woman was saved by a team of medics.

In the evening of April 7, the rioters organised a National Salvation Committee, which consists of student and civic representatives, but no politicians. Writer Nicolae Dabija, a vice-president of the Committee said that the intended purpose of the Committee is to organise new elections.

On the night of April 7, around 1 AM, police forces routed the remaining crowds arresting 193 participants. On the following day, more arrests were issued, with demonstrators beaten and transported away in police cars. Several videos recorded by protesters in Chisinau show civilian dressed policemen aggressing and detaining demonstrators.

Government reaction

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, in an address on April 7, 2009, described the events in the capital as a coup d'état organised by "a handful of fascists drunk with anger" and declared that the Moldovan authorities will defend themselves against the "leaders of the pogrom". The President also urged the West to help restore order and resolve the conflict.

The border between Romania and Moldova was closed on April 7. Moldovan students studying in Romania and international journalists were not allowed to enter the country. The following day, train connections between Romania and Moldova were cancelled for undefined period, because of "technical" issues.

On the morning of April 8, President Voronin accused Romanian nationalists of being the force behind the riots in Chişinău. He instituted visa requirements for Romanian citizens and declared the Romanian ambassador in Moldova, Filip Teodorescu, persona non grata, requiring him to leave the country within 24 hours.

Following the escalation of the riots and the burning down of the parliament building, Voronin said "we tried to avoid bloodshed, but if yesterday's situation will be repeated, we will respond accordingly".

Later on April 8, Voronin made the following statement: "For the first time, the Moldovan people saw the opposition openly betray their own people and their own country by taking the path of provoking open civil war. The whole country saw that there is no opposition whatsoever in Moldova - neither anti-Communist, nor anti-Voronin. There is only opposition to the state." The President also commented on the displaying of Romanian flags: "What happened yesterday brought indelible shame on our politicians, on the whole of our democracy. The entire Moldovan nation witnessed the greatest humiliation of its own sovereignty and its own democracy when the state standards were ripped from the flagpoles of Parliament and the President's Office and replaced with the flags of Romania."

International reaction

European Union's Czech presidency expressed deep concern about the developments in Moldova, calling "on the Government of Moldova, the opposition and the people of Moldova, to refrain from any action that could lead to further escalation of the tensions in the country". The EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana called on all parties to the conflict to refrain from violence and provocation. He argued that "violence against government buildings is unacceptable." He added that "international election observers noted in their preliminary findings that the elections met many international standards and commitments, but that further improvements were required."
Romania also backed the European Union assessment and urged a cessation of violence. Several thousand Bucharesters gathered in the University Square to show support for the Moldovan protesters. Hundreds of people mobilized in Romania's major cities Iaşi, Timişoara, Arad, Cluj, Braşov, Craiova, Petroşani, Craiova, Suceava and Bacău as well.
German social-democrats Gert Weisskirchen and Markus Meckel have stated that the Moldovan authorities should openly analize the possibility of a repetition of the vote, and should give up accusations that the protesters were acting under orders from a foreign entity. They also consider that president Vladimir Voronin bears the main responsibility for the protests.
Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Grigory Karasin, said that Russia is concerned about developments in Moldova, while Alexey Ostrovsky, the Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma for CIS, accused Western secret services of trying to destabilise CIS countries in order to attract them towards NATO. He also claimed that Romania helps the process in order to swallow Moldova and create a new unified country.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out this statement on April 8: "Judging by the slogans shouted in the squares, plenty of Romanian flags in the hands of organizers of these outrages, their aim is to discredit the achievements in strengthening the sovereignty of Moldova. The Russian foreign ministry hopes that common sense will prevail, public and constitutional order will be restored in the next few days and the choice of the Moldovan citizens will be confirmed by all politically responsible forces."
United States State Department spokesman Robert Wood said "we basically share that assessment that the OSCE gave."