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2009 Chişinău riots
Riots in the capital of Moldova
Location	Chişinău,  Moldova
Date	April 7, 2009
Deaths	3 (1 civilian, 2 police officers) (unofficial)
Injured	more than 50
Perpetrator	Supporters of opposition parties
No. of participants	Protesters: around 10,000

The 2009 Chişinău riots began on April 7, 2009 in Chişinău, Moldova, following the 2009 Moldovan parliamentary election. Demonstrators claimed that the elections, which saw the Communist Party win for the third successive time, were fraudulent. The demonstrators attacked the parliament building and presidential office, breaking windows and setting furniture on fire. One civilian and two police officers died.

Cause of the conflict

The cause of unrest was the announcement of preliminary election results on April 6, 2009, which according to the government showed the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova victorious, winning nearly 50% of the voting support. The opposition refuted 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.

Another cause of dissatisfaction groups involved in the riots, in addition to prospects for the next four years the Governments of the communists, was a general low standard of living in the Republic of Moldova. Moldova with an average salary of less than $250 and high unemployment, is the poorest country of Europe.

Riots

The first demonstrations began in Chişinău on April 6, 2009, with rising numbers of demonstrators arriving the next day, April 7, 2009. The demonstration, numbering about ten thousand, mostly students and young people, gathered in the city center, on the Boulevard Stefan the Great. 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, but they were 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 lit fire to documents and furniture both inside and outside the building. The building was retaken by the police later in the evening.

The protesters chanted pro-Western, pro-Union with Romania 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.

As a result of the riots, one person died of smoke inhalation in the parliament building. More than 50 police officers and protesters were injured in clashes. Moldovan opposition called on the authorities to carry out new elections, and the demonstrators to stop violence. 50 were injured in the clashes.

In the evening of April 7, the rioters organised a National Salvation Committee, which includes only representatives of the students and civil society, 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.

National reactions

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, in an address on April 7, 2009, described the events in the capital as a coup d'état organised by Fascists and 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.

International reaction

• European Union 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.
• 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.

Images

• Police guard the entrance to Parliament
• Police at the Parliament
• Furniture is taken through broken windows
• Burning desks on the steps of Parliament

References

1. "Proteste în Republica Moldova: Zeci de mii de tineri protestează în Piaţa Marii Adunări Naţionale". Template:Ro icon
2. "Chisinau, ciocniri intre cei 30.000 de manifestanti si politie. Tinerii striga Revolutie!, Revolutie!, Ole, Ole! Voronin nu mai e!. Grupuri de protestatari se indreapta spre televiziune". HotNews. Template:Ro icon
3. "Tinerii zgâlţâie comunismul la Chişinău", Evenimentul Zilei, April 8, 2009
4. "Moldova students raid parliament". BBC News. April 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
5. Noam Cohen, "Moldovans Turn to Twitter to Organize Protests", The Lade, at the New York Times, April 7, 2009
6. "Moldovans try to burn parliament in protest at 'rigged' poll", The Scotsman, April 8, 2009
7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7988893.stm "Police retake Moldova parliament"], BBC, April 7, 2009
8. "Violent Protests Erupt in Moldova", New York Times, April 7, 2009
9. "Steagul României, arborat pe sediul Preşedinţiei moldovene", Cotidianul, April 7, 2009
10. Rusnac, Corneliu (April 7, 2009). "Protesters storm Moldovan parliament". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
11. "La Chişinău a fost organizat un Comitet al Salvării Naţionale", Realitatea, April 8, 2009
12. Delirul lui Voronin: "Demonstrantii sunt fascisti; ne vom apara impotriva pogromului", Ziua, April 8, 2009
13. "Moldovan Leader Calls Violence a Coup Attempt". Moscow Times. April 8, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
14. "EU's Solana urges calm in Moldova". Reuters. April 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
15. "Romanian foreign ministry backs EU stand on Republic of Moldova". Financiarul. April 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
16. "Românii, solidari cu Moldova", Evenimentul Zilei, April 8, 2009
17. "Moscova acuza Bucurestiul ca destabilizeaza Moldova", România Liberă, April 8, 2009

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