Ceban: SSC Should Ban Sor’s Protest Rather than Point Finger at the Mayor’s Office

The mayor of the capital, Ion Ceban, said that the Supreme Security Council (SSC) under the presidency has all the levers to ban the protest announced by the Sor party on the Great National Assembly Square. “The SSC has absolutely all the levers to refrain from spreading horror stories about tens of thousands of people coming from the Russian Federation – and instead take concrete action, if deemed necessary, by refusing to authorize the protest announced by Ilan Sor,” Ceban said, as quoted by unimedia.info When asked why he blocked the LGBT march but is not imposing the same measures against Sor’s protest, Ceban replied: “They are trying to shift this problem onto the Chisinau City Hall. But there are specialized state bodies with broader powers, like the Supreme Security Council. Let them take specific measures if they consider it necessary. The SSC has powers enshrined in law that cannot be ignored or violated. I repeat: any decision taken by the SSC is binding on all state institutions – the police, the SIS, and any others responsible for ensuring security or preventing what they regard as potential threats.” Ceban accused the ruling party of trying to link him to those behind the protests. “PAS is trying to link me to politicians who formally requested City Hall’s approval to hold these demonstrations – the same way the police did. What the police are asking of us now is like asking the police to dance at the Opera and Ballet Theater instead of catching criminals and doing their actual job. The Security Council under the President has all the tools to ensure the system works, without pointing fingers at City Hall, the police, or anyone else,” Ceban said.