Almost 1,000 protesters in Chisinau surround court building where opposition leader tried
CHISINAU. Feb 15 (Interfax) - Protesters in Chisinau have blocked a court building in the Riscanovca area of the capital, where Grigory Petrenko, chairman of the party Our Home Is Moldova, is on trial, along with six fellow party members, all charged with the organization of mass riots and clashes with police during their picketing outside of the Moldovan Prosecutor General's office back on September 6, 2015.
More than 1,000 supporters of the DA Civil Platform and the opposition Our Party surrounded the court building along the perimeter of it, after the seven detainees were brought to the court hearing there, an Interfax correspondent reported.
The Chisinau protesters consider the detainees as "political prisoners" and deterrence for those participating in the current mass protests in Moldova. They declared on Monday that they came to bring about the release of all "political prisoners".
The demonstrators are blocking the court building along its outer perimeter. The building is also in encircled by hundreds of policemen wearing an anti-riot uniform and armed with automatic weapons.
The protesters shout out loud mottos like "We won't go back!", "Shame!", "Free Petrenko Group!", "Down with Plahontniuc" and "Plahontniuc, don't forget: prison is your home" (Vlad Plahotniuc is a Moldovan oligarch whom the protesters have been opposing).
The policemen, for their part, have exhibited the banner saying "Thank you for peaceful protests", placing it in front of the protesters.
Our Party leader Renato Usatii has called on his fellow party members "to stand to the end and gain the release of 'Petrenko group' members".
