Ciolos: Romania 100 Platform files criminal complaint over violence at August 10 rally

The Romania 100 Platform, along with other civic organizations, filed on Monday a criminal complaint with the Prosecution Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice against the Gendarmerie chief and the Minister of Internal Affairs over the authorities' intervention at the anti-government rally organized on Friday, August 10, in Bucharest's Victoriei Square, leader of the Romania Together Movement, former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos announced. 

"This protest degenerated into violence primarily because of provocateurs, agitators and gangs of hooligans who were infiltrated or infiltrated the rally, and also because of the out of proportion response from the state authorities, and from the Gendarmerie. It is highly important for the participants in the rally and for those who believe in democracy that we clarify the administrative and criminal responsibilities for what happened there. (...) The Romania 100 Platform, together with other civic organizations, is filing this morning a criminal complaint with the Prosecution Office, where we clearly mention all those who carry the responsibility for what has happened there, complete with arguments. From our point of view, the administrative responsibility obviously falls on the Minister of Internal Affairs, the head of the Gendarmerie, the Prefect of Bucharest, who gave the intervention order," Ciolos told a press conference. 

According to him, his political formation provides interested citizens a template for the criminal complaint, for them to be able to claim their rights and due explanations. 

The former Prime Minister also said that "it is very important for all Romanian citizens that the competent authorities clarify whether there had been premeditation for everything that happened there, who is to blame for the aggressions, who is responsible for the provocations there. And without doubt, the Gendarmerie leaders, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Prime Minister too must take responsibility, because the Gendarmerie reports to them and they coordinate law enforcement interventions." 

The leader of the Romania Together Movement pointed out that "it is not admissible in a democracy, that authorities who are required to ensure security and order and protect peaceful citizens turn against them."