Ten Romanian Unionists Fined RON10,000 Following Unauthorized Police Rallies

Police union leader Marian Gruia told MEDIAFAX Wednesday that the Gendarmerie fined him and nine other union representatives who entered the Presidential Palace Friday to talk with Gabriel Piscociu, state adviser for the Relation with Public Authorities and the Civil Society.

The ten union leaders said they will challenge the sanctions before the court.

Nearly 8,000 people, including thousands of police officers and prison guards, gathered outside the presidential palace in Bucharest last week. They had started their demonstration at the Government’s headquarters but left after two hours for the presidential palace, in an unauthorized march, where they threw bottles, candles and police hats and demanded the president come out and solve their claims.

Following the protest, President Traian Basescu and the prime minister announced they no longer wish to be escorted by Interior Ministry personnel. The president said police officers undermined the state’s authority and its institutions, and highlighted that the only protesters who breached the law during rallies staged last week were the ministry’s employees. He also said gendarmes who were supposed to apply the law, negotiated it with demonstrators.

Interior Minister Vasile Blaga resigned Monday, amid tensions raised by the unsanctioned protest march, and was replaced by Constantin Traian Igas.

Basescu said Monday that he expects the Government’s report regarding the unauthorized protest march of police workers. The Government’s report will be most likely presented Thursday, at the meeting of the Supreme Defense Council.

People close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Tuesday that three Romanian police officers who were carrying weapons during the unauthorized protests held last week were identified based on video recordings provided by the Bucharest Gendarmerie and analyzed by the Interior Ministry.