The leader of “Chance” political party Alexei Lungu, who was detained on Wednesday during the protest mounted next to the Buiucani Court of Chisinau City, was released on the same day. However, a criminal case for hooliganism was started against him.

“A criminal case was started against him for hooliganism and administrative proceedings were instituted against him for disobedience,” Diana Fetco, press officer of the General Police Inspectorate, has told IPN.

Alexei Lungu was arrested close to the Buiucani Court whose judges were examining a case in which the Bashkan of Gagauzia Yevgenia Guțul and a secretary of the Central Office of the former Shor Party are accused of knowingly accepting financing for the election contestant from an organized criminal group.

The Inspectorate noted that the police were requested by the president of the Buiucani Court to ensure that any form of assembly is staged not closer than 25 meters from the court’s premises. Otherwise, the actions of the participants will be considered interference in the institution’s work.

“In this connection, the police informed those attending about the court’s request, asking them to comply. At that moment, one of the participants showed disrespect through disobedience and aggressiveness in relation to employees of the law enforcement institutions, hitting the assets of state institutions. Therefore, he was taken to the police station to have administrative and criminal proceedings brought against him,” said the GPI.