Dozens of Orthodox Christians headed by priests barred the entrance to the Palace of the Republic in order to prevent the lawmakers from examining the bill with amendments to the Criminal Code in the second reading. The bill annuls the penalties for the promotion of other relations than the family and household ones, IPN reports.

The protesters said prayers and kneeled down in front of the building. “We are Christians and will not allow the wrongdoings to become law.  We either live or die. We are not afraid of anything as we are protected by God,” said one of the protesters.

Communist MPs joined the faithful people. “We serve the people’s interests. We must support them,” said the Communist leader Vladimir Voronin. Liberal lawmaker Valeriu Saharneanu tried to come closer o the protesters, but was booed by the crowd.

The sitting of Parliament started with delay. The lawmakers and employees of the legislature’s staff entered the Palace of the Republic through the backdoor, helped by the police. The Communist lawmakers didn’t come to the sitting.