Chris Doss The Russia Journal ------------------ Opposition suspends anti-communist protests in Moldova By VASILE BOTNARU Associated Press Writer
CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) - Moldova's opposition ended its mass rallies aimed at ousting the pro-Moscow government on Monday after Europe's top human rights body urged both sides to stick to democratic ways in handling their disagreements.
Iurie Rosca, the head of the opposition Popular Christian Democratic Party, said the opposition will comply with a resolution adopted last week by the Council of Europe calling for it to end its street protests against the government.
The demonstrations have brought thousands into the streets since January, when the ruling Communist Party announced plans to make Russian an official language and the government mandated the studying of Russian in Moldovan schools.
The moves infuriated many ethnic Moldovans, who feared a return to the old Soviet times when Russian was mandatory and use of Moldovan or Romanian was discouraged by authorities.
Most of Moldova, a small and poor country of 4.5 million people located between Romania and Ukraine, was part of Romania until 1940. Two-thirds of its people are of Romanian descent.
The government scrapped the language measures in February, but the demonstrations continued amid mounting calls for the resignation of the president, parliament and government.
The Council of Europe also asked the government to stop the prosecution of opposition leaders, allow the opposition access to the state television and recognize the Romanian Orthodox Church as a religion in Moldova.
Tensions between the government and the pro-Western opposition flared again last month over the disappearance of opposition lawmaker Vlad Cubreacov, who has been a main organizer of the anti-government protests.
Authorities ordered a massive search for Cubreacov and offered a dlrs 35,000 reward for information about his whereabouts, but the efforts did not produce any results.
"We complied ... now it is the turn of the communists to do their part," said opposition leader Rosca, warning that demonstrations would resume if the communists fail to live up to their promises to meet the council's demands.
In a sign that the tensions were easing, top communist lawmaker Victor Stepaniuc said the parliament will ask the prosecutors to cancel a criminal investigation against opposition leaders accused of organizing illegal rallies. Communists control 71 of 101 seats in Parliament.