Twenty protesters charged in Moldova's 'Twitter revolution'
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 23 April 2009 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Twenty protesters charged in Moldova's 'Twitter revolution', 23 April 2009, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/49fb10f35.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 23, 2009
Postelection demonstrations turned violent in Chisinau on April 7.
The Moldovan Prosecutor-General's Office says 20 people have been officially charged for participating in mass protests following the April 5 elections, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.
In what has been labeled Moldova's "Twitter Revolution," thousands of mostly young people protested the ruling Communist Party's win in the parliamentary vote.
The offenses range from "improper behavior" to "attempt to overthrow the government," and 12 of the charged people are still in custody. An estimated few hundred protesters were originally detained after Chisinau's postelection violence on April 7-8.
Protest organizer and journalist Natalia Morar is still under house arrest and faces charges of inciting "mass disorder."
The Prosecutor-General's Office said the arrest and detention figures refer only to the capital, Chisinau, and it is not known if there are other suspects in custody in other Moldovan cities.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament has announced it will hold hearings to discuss the protests and violence following the elections.
Moldovan Ambassador to the European Union Kalman Mizsei and Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca will testify in Strasbourg.
Marianne Mikko of Estonia, who chairs the EU-Moldova parliamentary forum, told RFE/RL's Moldovan Service on April 22 that the riot was "contrary to the European spirit." She criticized the response by the country's security forces, blaming them for two deaths and hundreds of injuries.
But Mikko did not endorse the Moldovan opposition's call for a repeat election.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
