Resistance technology

How civil activists brought 15 thousand people to Chisinau streets

Two student associations brought 15 thousand people on Chisinau Square. It was a sensation. How did it succeed?

Chief Editor The New Times Evgenia Albats
It so happened that I ended up in a situation where I had to make a choice.
The choice between their civil position and profession.
It was a difficult choice. But I could not do it.
As a journalist, especially as a journalist of the Russian magazine in Moldova,
I had to cover the events taking place in the country.
As a citizen, I could not remain a simple observer.
She could not only silently fix on paper what was happening around me.
And together with my people, I went to the square, became a participant in the protest in Moldova.
I want to emphasize: the shares in which I participated - these were peaceful, non -violent actions:
For my part, I did everything to persuade people to abandon violence.
I made a conscious choice. I did so and said what I considered necessary to do and say.
In the current conditions, I ask the editors of The New Times to suspend my contract. The ethics of the profession does not allow me to be a journalist in Moldova. Civil position does not allow not to be divided
The fate and hope of my country. Now I am primarily a citizen.
This is a difficult solution. But I hope you will understand him. What you read below -
Already the material is not a journalist - a participant in events. It happened.
04/08/2009, Chisinau, Moldova

April 6 was conceived as a flash mob. Not a rally, not a picket, not a political action. 6 young people gathered and organized the group “I am an anti -communist”. To challenge the election results, put forward political requirements - nothing of this was planned at that moment. The media and the CEC reported the next convincing victory of the Communists of Moldova in the elections, which means that there are still 4 years of their reign ahead. 12 years of life at the Communists in a European country - wildness ... These six simply wanted to declare: we are disappointed with the choice of compatriots, although we recognized and recognize their right to such a choice. But in the end, the majority is far from always right. Data on falsifications, about fraud with voter lists fell into our hands later.

Who? How? The initiative group was created on one day and for one action from activists of two student network associations - ThinkMoldova and Hyde Park. All the guys entering her are now underground, on the run. Associations unite students in their ranks of various universities in Chisinau. Thinkmoldova until the last moment was organizing meetings of politicians with students. Moreover, they were invited not only to opposition, but also by the completely loyal authorities of political figures. Discussions were popular, gathering dozens of students each time. They left their phones, email addresses, coordinates on social networks.

In Moldova, unlike Russia, Western social networks are much more popular than local, and even more so Russian (by the way, we can say about the blogosphere), although most students know Russian.

The group “I am the anti -communist” went already tested, because the contact base she really had impressive. SMS messages, mail announcements, by pages of social networks, primarily the most popular among Moldavian youth-Facebook and Twitter. Each addressee was asked: he received it, read, informed all his friends. Report and call with you. Idea: to gather in the square in front of the monument to Stefan Mara, to light the candles and thus express your disappointment with the results of the next popular vote. It is disappointment. Hence the name of the flash mob: "April 6 - day of national sorrow."

Why did it work? None of the events of student associations, to be honest, never collected more than a hundred and half a participants. The organizers of the flash mob came from this. The notification sent to the Chisinau City Hall indicated that “several hundred people” will be attended by the action. They counted on a maximum of 300-400. Therefore, they chose the smallest of the possible sites - at the monument. The Square of the National Assembly to the Parliament and the Square between the Presidential Administration and the parliament are huge. Several hundred people are completely lost on them, but here the action will look more impressive. But more came.

According to some reports, up to 15 thousand. Nobody expected this. A joyful surprise, but also additional responsibility. The action had to be carried out without incidents, without provocations, which was succeeded on that first day.

Politicians, experts, journalists later wrote that for such a short time it is impossible to gather so many people: “The action was planned in advance! The action was paid! "

This is wrong.

Everything is actually much easier. Certainly easier than any conspiratorial

theories.

Young people Moldova are tired of living in the communist present. Poor, gray, devoid of any prospects. Around - Europe. A free world that does not know borders. And here ... and so for eight years ... eight years of the Communists in power. Is all this for 4 years! The feeling of powerlessness, longing that you will have to weave behind the crowd again, who prefers the freedom of Paradise of a big brother - maybe this made people go to the square? What is called is a job. Half -tranes - in migrant workers, in nannies and dishwashers in rich Europe. Children grow without mothers and fathers. And nothing, nothing changes. Is it easy to be young in a wretched and stubborn country in his squalor?

So 15 thousand were next to us five. Now this is the fact of history. For at least 15 thousand of our fellow citizens, the communist real Moldova is impossible. They, we - said about it. What happened after is not our fault. Although our common, Moldavan, is now trouble.