17 persons are undergoing criminal proceedings for their violent actions against participants in a march for unification with Romania on August 5 in Balti. Balti District Prosecutor Viorel Tureac told a Friday news conference that the first criminal case was sent to court on September 13, Info-Prim Neo reports. The 17 persons are prosecuted in 5 cases, 3 of which concern the violation of the right to freedom of assembly and 2 were initiated on charges of hooliganism. The Prosecutors says that among those prosecuted are Victor Shelin, the leader of the Social-Democratic Party and Mihail Garbuz, the leader of the Moldova’s Patriots Party. Those who are found guilty of the charges risk prison, community work or fines. Other 154 persons have already received administrative sanctions and paid fines totaling 100,000 lei. On August 5, a pro-Romania march in Balti degenerated into violence after encountering counter-demonstrators who partly represented political parties. The counter-demonstrators threw rocks, eggs and tomatoes at the marchers besides other violent acts. The efforts by the police to end the violence proved largely ineffective. A police officer and a journalist were among those injured in the clash.