About 50 people took part in a protest staged in front of the Government Building, requesting the authorities to increase the number of polling places in Russia. The protesters, supported by the electoral bloc “Moldova’s Choice – Customs Union”, said they are dissatisfied that only five polling places will be established in Russia, IPN reports.

Sergiu Corobceanu, secretary general of the Social Democratic Party, which forms part of the electoral bloc, said that more than 700,000 Moldovans work in Russia and Moldova survives owing to the cash transfers made by them. Regardless of their political orientation, the Government must create equal voting conditions for them. At least 200,000 polling places should be set up in Russia.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Valeriu Chiveri earlier said the decision to establish five polling places in Russia is based on an analysis of the people’s participation in the 2010 elections. According to him, 4,100 Moldovans cast their ballots at the four polling places opened in Russia then.