From 500 to 1000 lei per day. This is the amount that people who stayed in tents in front of state institutions during the past days can get. To get more information about the purpose and the organization of these protests, the ZDG reporter decided to change roles, turning into a person who wants to participate in the protest. Thus, she spent part of June 14, 2019, as a protester in front of the Prosecutor’s Office and another part of the day – near the Government Building, discussing with the “organizers.” They did not hesitate to give her details about prices and conditions.

Groups of people that gathered around public institutions in recent days generated much controversy. On the one hand, people who were present day and night in front of the institutions could not explain why they came when asked by journalists. On the other hand, there were very many signals in the public space that these people were paid to mimic a kind of protest near these institutions, but actually, they do not understand what they have to do.

ZdG wrote several reports about these crowds and people, but each time reporters came back with more questions than answers. Some of those present were peaceful peasants from villages who kept quiet, while others – were young, physically fit, and acting as if they were controlling these human beings.

To get more information about the purpose and the organization of these protests, the ZDG reporter decided to change roles, turning into a person who wants to participate in the “protest”. Thus, she spent part of June 14, 2019, as a protester in front of the Prosecutor’s Office and another part of the day – near the Government Building.

“Some people make 4,000 lei in one month, while we give this money for just 4 days”

Thus, the people she met confirmed that “protesters” are paid,  and further explained how they are organized, how they are paid, how much they get per day or per night, and what are the fees. “Dima” (Dumitru, nr) from Şoldăneşti, one of the organizers of the groups of “protesters,” said with pride that “for example, there are people who get 500 lei, but here it is 50 euro, we pay them in Euros.  Here you can get 1000 lei per day. If you stay 2 days, you get 2000 lei. Others make 4,000 lei in a month working; we give this money for just 4 days. “

One of the challenges of this protest is hygiene. “Dima” also explained how hygiene procedures work: “they wash themselves from bottles.  They take a bottle of water, they wash their hands and face and that’s it. They do not clean their privates, no”. “Dima” has a house in Chisinau and he sometimes invites his acquaintances to take a shower, but he does not accept elders and strangers. “Vanea” (Ion) from Căuşeni says that in the evening everyone is allowed to take a bath in “the Pool behind the Government Building, for free”. “The pool, yes, it is free of charge from 9 to 10. Yesterday, I went to the lake, today, to the pool and so on”. The man refers to the pool of the University of Physical Education and Sport, located behind the Government Building. Contacted by ZdG, the pool employee denied the information, and the director did not reply.

Thursday, June 14, was the first day when people from villages were missing near public institutions. The organizers also have an explanation: “many people showed up yesterday but many of them were sent home. They were getting drunk, they were fighting,” said the young man.

The ZdG reporter, disguised as a protester tried to find out the meaning of this commercial activity. The organizers did not look too prepared or interested in the political aspect, saying it had something to do with “the billion, the non-billion.” However, they say that there will be a lot of people over the weekend; probably they will be brought for a counter-protest. “There will be many people on Sunday.  Both camps will come to protest. People from both camps will come out to protest”, says Vanea. The cause would be “Maia Sandu said to come and to banish us. It is all about politics”.

Here are the dialogues with two of the organizers of these events. (R – reporter, Dima – the collocutor next to the General Prosecutor’s Office, Vanea – the collocutor near the Government Building)

„I give money to mine; you should find yours, from Calarasi”

R:  Do they give you food?

Dima: – Honestly speaking, I do not know, but they should feed us.  To better understand this, my sister’s husband, he organizes all of this, and I merely show up, I look at what they do, and I go home, I do not stay here. I come and I give money, look; I keep it in the cover- euro. I come and I give money and that’s it.

R: Who do you pay?

Dima:  To people over here who protest.

R: It means, I will get money too?

Dima: I do not know, where will you stay? I give it to my people. You should find where people from Calarasi protest. When you find them, you should talk to them, and find out who is the boss there. Take as example my sister’s husband, he gives money, he does everything. There is somebody who does the same for Calarasi.

R: But these people, what village, district are they from?

Dima: Honestly, I know just people from Soldanesti.

E: But on that side, where are they from?

Dima: I may find, but I do not know. There are many people here, I do not know everyone.

R:  When did it all start?

Dima: This is the 6th day.

R:  How much will I be paid for that?

Dima: I do not know. The fees are different. For example, there are people who get 500 lei, but we pay 50 euros, we pay in euros. We pay 1000 lei for a day, if you stay 2 days, you get 2000 lei. Other people make 4000 lei per month, working, while we give the same amount of money for 4 days of protest.

„We are doing a kind of meeting, but I do not care”

R:  But, explain, what is going on?

Dima: A kind of meeting.

R: What for?

Dima:  Honestly speaking, I do not know, I do not care. I understood that someone stole or didn;t steal didn’t steal the million, te non-million…

R: Why some of them are paid, others not?

Dima:  But why? Everyone must be paid.

R: I asked some boys over there, and nobody knows.

Dima: Nobody will tell you any information. Even if they are paid, you will not know.

R: My granny told me that there will be many people, but it is not so.

Dima: There were many people yesterday, but many of them were sent home.

R: Why?

Dima: They were drunk, they were fighting.

R: Will more people  come?

Dima: I do not know. I know that people from Soroca were supposed to come today; I do not know any other information.

R:  Where should they come, there (near the General Prosecutor’s Office) or where?

Dima: Yes.

R: But these people over here, they don’t go home? Where do they wash themselves, where do they go to the toilet?

Dima: Honestly, these boys use water from bottles. They take water from bottles, they wash their hands and face and that’s it. But they do not clean their privates, no.  For example, my friends that I’m standing over there with, I take them to my house to take a shower. If they are my friends, I take them. If they aren’t, I don’t. I do not invite old people to take a shower in my house; I might even not know them. If I know them, I take them. No problem. I invite them to take a shower in my house.

„How much you were promised to receive?”

Participant: Did you come to protest here?

R: Yes.

P: Where from?

R: Calarasi, and you?

P: From Causeni. Did you come alone or with a team?

R:  I came with my granny.

P:  Was it your decision or someone brought you?

R: And you?

P:  We did not come by ourselves.

R: But how?

P:  But what? You do not know how? What is your name?

R: Alina (changed name)

P: Vanea (shaking hands)

Vanea: By bus or on your own? Were you brought in?

R: No, I came by minibus from the village.

V:  And, were you promised to receive anything?

R: My granny said yes, but I do not know. And you?

V:  Granny didn’t come today?

R:  She did, but she is on the other side.

V:  Are there more grannies?

R: Not so many grannies.

V: There were 8 buses yesterday, and every other day, too. Tut today didn’t come.  I do not know why.

R: But did they tell you that you will get paid?

V: Yes, of course. I am here since Monday.

R:  When will they give us money?

V: I do not know, how you manage to stay here. We stay day and night, we sleep here, I am here for the 4th night. How much did they promise to give you?

R: About 500, but who knows.

V:  Ah yes. Those who come in the morning and leave in the evening, they get 500 lei.

R:  And you?

V: 1000.

R: For all 4 nights?  

V:  Every night and every day- one thousand lei.

R: Is the money given here?

V:  Yes, we have our boss. I do not know who is responsible for Calarasi. Wait, you have to be enrolled in the list. Did you enroll in the list?

R: Where should I enroll in the lists?

V:  Is it grandma’s first day at the protest? Did she get money yesterday, the day before yesterday?

R: She is here for the first time.

Vanea: You should find out other people from Calarasi, and find out who is the boss and then enroll in the list. I do not know another way. .

„There will be a lot of people on Sunday. People from both camps will come.”

R:  Will we get paid when we leave?

V: Yes, in the evening, at 5-6, when people go home (people who protest just during the day).  I tell you, today, no woman came, only guys. There will be many people on Sunday.

R: Will be there many people on Sunday?

V:  People from both camps will come.

R: Why?

V: Maia Sandu said to come and to make us leave. So, it’s all about politics.

R:  Do you eat somewhere here?

V: Yes, they feed us. Three times a day. You should find groups with people from Calarasi and there is one of them who has the list and the money. If you are enrolled in that list, you get food.

R: If you get enrolled in the list, do they give you food?

V:  Food, and roubles and ice cream.

R: But where do you take a shower?

V: Yes, there is the pool, for us, for free, from 9 to 10. Yesterday, we went to the lake, today to the pool and so on.

R: Are all the people from behind the Government building, are, all of them from Causeni?

V:  From Causeni exactly, from my town, there are 16 people, I am monitoring them.

R: How did they find them?

V:  We have some friends, who are from this, their democratic party.

V:  Do you see that guy, he has a group, and he gives money. He is with Anenii Noi. You should find one like this one, who is responsible for Calarasi.

R:  tell me exactly, what is this for?

Vanea:  This is simply, not to elect them, you know, for fair elections as they say. But, today few people, the day before yesterday, there were a lot of them.

The Democratic Party announced today that the Filip Government resigns. Shortly after this announcement, protesters who have settled in front of several state institutions picked up their belongings and tents and left.

Daniela Calmîș,