#red bloc

Chisinau, Moldova: 4 years since historic Liberty Township protest against oligarch dictatorship

Tuesday, July 30 -  7:00 to 10:00 pm

Salsa House Cafe, str. Alexandru cel Bun 83, 2012 Chisinau, Moldova

Come to a meeting on the lessons of the struggle and the work ahead.

Speakers: 

- Alexander Petkov - ex-deputy; 

- Pavel Grigorchuk - civil activist; 

- Sergiu Tofilat - civil activist; 

- By Skype: lawyer Ana Ursachi and politician Grigory Petrenko 

Chisinau, Moldova: Demonstrators gather at offices of newly-elected parliamentary opposition demanding action against the rule of Vlad Plahotniuc and other oligarchs, March 3, 2019.

In the repressive atmosphere gripping the Moldovan capital, “the police outnumbered the demonstrators,” noted one of the organizers.

We, the undersigned, urgently demand that the government of Moldova release civic activist Pavel Grigorchuk from preventive detention in Chisinau. Grigorchuk was arrested March 21 after leading an anti-corruption protest outside the Moldovan Parliament.

Following the protest, Grigorchuk encountered Sergey Syrbu, a leading member of the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), dominated by oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc. Syrbu insulted and cursed at Grigorchuk, who responded by slapping the deputy’s cheek. Within an hour, police descended on him. Grigorchuk was placed in preventive custody for 30 days and reportedly faces up to five years in prison.

According to Grigorchuk’s attorney, the activist, who suffers from asthma, is currently confined to the basement of jail PU-13, Building 3 (SIZO), in dangerously cold and damp conditions that severely threaten his health. This blatant act of political retribution must end. ...

We demand:

That Pavel Grigorchuk be immediately removed from the dangerous conditions at PU-13, Building 3, and given appropriate medical attention in a hospital;

That Grigorchuk be released from preventive detention;

Drop all charges against Girgorchuk stemming from the incident on March 21.

Partial list of signers:

Individuals:

Jose Maria Sison, chairperson, International League of Peoples’ Struggle

Berta Joubert-Ceci, convener, International Tribunal on U.S. Colonial Crimes in Puerto Rico

Gloria Verdieu, Committee Against Police Brutality-San Diego and Coalition to Free Mumia & All Political Prisoners

Sergei Kirichuk, coordinator, Borotba-Berlin

Alexey Albu, coordinator, Borotba-Donbass

Stanislav Retinsky, secretary of the Central Committee, Communist Party of Donetsk People’s Republic

Greg Butterfield, Struggle-La Lucha newspaper (U.S.)

Milos Raickovich, composer and conductor, adjunct assistant professor, College of Staten Island, CUNY (U.S.)

Organizations:

United Communist Party of Russia, Central Committee

Socialist Unity Party (U.S.)

Prisoners Solidarity Committee (U.S.)

International Action Center-West Coast (U.S.)

New Communist Party of Britain

Communist Revolutionary Action (Greece)

Workers International Vanguard League (South Africa)