Eurasia Press & News
CHISINAU – Moldova will introduce visa regime with Romania starting from Thursday, April 9, Andrei Stratan, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and European Integration Minister, announced on Wednesday.
According to the official, the decision was approved at a government meeting on Wednesday, so as to consolidate efforts of maintaining control over the protests taking place in Chisinau.
“It is necessary to ensure a checking of the people who come to Moldova from Romania, as a series of people, citizens of the neighbor country, participated in the protest actions over the last two days,” Andrei Stratan said.
He said that for the time being, the Moldova entry visas for the Romanian citizens will be free of charge, as presently, the Romania entry visas for the Moldovans are free of charge as well.
According to a Wednesday statement of Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, Romania was involved in election protests in Chisinau that led to disorder and vandalism.
Voronin said that according to available information, Romanian authorities provided five buses to some young people who instigated crowds in Chisinau to stage anti-government protests and demand unification with Romania.
The protesters, who were against a Communist election victory, had stormed on Tuesday the parliament and the presidential building, demanding unification with Romania and flying a Romanianflag on the presidential building.
The violent protests erupted after the ruling Communist Party led by President Voronin won a landslide victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections.
The results will ensure that the ruling party maintains its control of all three power branches in the former Soviet republic — the parliament, the presidency and the government, which began in 2001.
