The people’s ombudsman calls on the authorities and on the organizers of the August 26 protest to be responsible and correct in ensuring the right to assembly. Mihail Cotorobai also calls upon the members and sympathizers of political parties and public movements who will protest to exercise the right to assembly peacefully, IPN reports.

The ombudsman calls on the persons involved in these events and on their opponents to show respect and tolerance of any human being, regardless of their political beliefs. The civilized dialogue, without any intimidation, is a defining conditions for the freedom of assembly and an important precondition for ensuring the free exchange of ideas, opinions and a guarantee for ensuring the observance of the democratic principles and the rule of law.

Mihail Cotorobai notes that other persons who do not support the ideas and demands of the organizers and protesters can express their dissatisfaction, but the right to counter-demonstrate in a democracy cannot go so far as to paralyze the right to demonstrate.

The ombudsman calls on the authorities to ensure all the conditions needed for unimpededly exercising the right to assembly by maintaining public order and ensuring the security of the protesters and by excluding violence and brutalities and attempts to place obstacles to the movement of persons from other localities to the protest. 

Mihail Cotorobai announced his intention to monitor the August 26 protest. He noted that any violations of the right to assembly can be reported on 060002641 or through the email address secretariat@ombudsman.md.