Money protests in Chisinau. A journalistic investigation reveals how much demonstrations were paid
For almost a month, the center of Chisinau was occupied by protests. Demonstrations accused the current government of not negotiating better energy prices with Russia and chanted against President Maia Sandu. An investigation by journalists from “Guard Newspaper” showed that the protesters were allegedly paid between 200 and 400 Moldovan lei. Some brought by buses from poor regions of the country, demonstrators occupied a main boulevard of Chisinau and even set up tents in the city center. Moreover, those who agree to stay at the protests overnight, in tents, receive the equivalent of $100 per night. The pro-Russian party Sor, led by a millionaire businessman sentenced in the Republic of Moldova to 7 years in prison for looting several banks, would be behind these actions.
A group of journalists from “Ziarul de Gardă” from the Republic of Moldova infiltrated among the protestersand from Chirail to see exactly why people came.
Discussion between protesters:
– And how much does he give you?
– 400.
– Will he give you 400?
– Yes.
– Nine 200!
– The cat?!
– two hundred!
Despite record inflation in the neighboring country, which is approaching 30%, the majority of citizens support the country’s pro-Europeanism.
“In fact, he must directly say that and prove the fact that most of the protesters came out to protest for money. For the most part, Moldovans did not join the protests, because it is clear that it is an attempt to destabilize Moscow. Most Moldovans understand that it is a crisis caused by Russian aggression”, says Radu Osipov, a journalist at the public station Moldova 1.
However, high inflation and high prices convinced many to accept the money and participate in the protests, given that the average gross salary in the neighboring country is only 388 euros per month.
Investigative journalists also captured the moment when a woman gives money to a young protest participant:
– Come on, here’s 400 lei, Anișoara!
– Thank you very much, very nice.
– But you don’t have to.
– I saw that now they are there with the tents.
– But you need two nights.
– I understand. But how much, at least to be worth it?
– Two nights, 200 euros…dollars.
Prague, Cologne and Bucharest were just some of the European cities that have seen such protests recently. Extremist politicians take advantage of people’s discontent and hardship to misinform the public and gain electoral capital. The protests in Chisinau were organized by the Shor Party, which is close to Moscow.
On Sunday, October 16, after the end of the “weekly protest actions” of the Shor Party, the police and carabinieri intervened to remove the protesters from the center of the capital, evacuating the tents from the road side around the Ștefan cel Mare y Sfânt monument, as well as from the Parliament Square . and in front of the Presidency. The move has caused backlash and criticism from some non-governmental organizationswrites “Ziarul de Gardà”.
Editor: Luana Pavaluca