The leader of the Association “UNIREA-ODIP” Vlad Biletski and one of the leaders of the UNION Political Movement Dorin Chirtoacă were fined by 22,500 lei for taking part in the ceremony to meet the 20 trucks with Romanian aid. The Association says such actions represent persecution for their intention to say “thank you” to the Romanian state for the significant assistance offered in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, IPN reports.
In a press release, ODIP says that only Dorin Chirtoacă and Vlad Biletski have been penalized by now, but about 20-30 persons are to be fined according to the police. The fine was imposed for violating the pandemic regime, which is they formed part of a group larger than three persons.
“The state organizes the public ceremony to meet the trucks and the same state penalizes those who took part. I want to explain in short why this is discrimination and persecution. The state is the only organizer and we are participants in a solemn, official event and, according to the law on assembly, the organizer, which is the Government of the Republic of Moldova in the person of Prime Minister Ion Chicu, is responsible for the proper organization of the meeting. We are not the organizers and this fine was imposed abusively,” said “UNIREA-ODIP” chairman Vlad Biletski.
According to him, dozens or even hundreds of persons were then at the scene, including the press and representatives of the state, and they formed groups larger than three persons. But the penalty was imposed on them only. A car march was staged in the central square of Chisinau on May 9, on the occasion of Victory Day, with tens of columns of cars. The organizers were private persons who had no connection with the state. President Igor Dodon urged then the people to take part in that public event. Igor Dodon also walks through the country, has meetings with elderly people and minors without wearing a mask and ignoring other protection measures.
Vlad Biletski noted that the penalty is discriminatory and unfair and they will challenge it in court. They will also notify the embassies accredited to Moldova and the Council for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Ensuring Equality.
