Demonstration fuelled by six-fold rise in bills after Russia reduces gas supplies to country with ambitions to join EU
Thousands of people have gathered in the Moldovan capital Chișinău at a protest organised by a pro-Russia party, with demonstrators criticising the pro-European government for a steep rise in the cost of living.reduced gas supplies to Moldova over the past year, bills have risen up to six times in the country of 2.6 million. The energy crisis and the war in neighbouring Ukraine have also contributed to inflation hitting 30%.
With western economic help, the government has subsidised energy bills but many are still struggling.Another protester, Ivan Vasile, 85 years old, said his pension was the equivalent of £100 a month. “Can I afford to buy myself cheese? I cannot,” Vasile said. “I only eat a little more than bread. Before, electricity and gas were cheaper. Democracy is for the rich.
to destabilise the country. The oligarch is believed to have fled to Israel after being convicted of involvement in the theft of $1bn from Moldova’s banks. At Sunday’s protests, Shor party leaders shouted “Down with Maia Sandu”, Moldova’s pro-European president, “Down with dictatorship” and “Down with the police” on the microphones, as they encouraged demonstrators to break police cordons., including 21 minors, for aggression and possession of dangerous objects such as knives and gas lighter sprays.
As a neighbour of Ukraine, Moldova is in a precarious geopolitical position. About 1,500 Russian troops are already stationed in the unrecognised Moscow-backed breakaway state of
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