Pride march banned in Chisinau. GENDERDOC-M: A serious violation of fundamental human rights
The Pride 2025 march was banned in Chisinau. This decision was approved by municipal councilors from the MAN, PSRM, and PCRM during a meeting of the Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC) held on May 15. In protest, the PAS faction walked out of the hall.
The extraordinary meeting of the Chisinau Municipal Council approved the draft “Regarding the holding of public meetings with sensitive topics related to gender identity and sexual orientation in the Chisinau municipality (LGBTQ+)”, which prohibits the holding of public activities organized by the community.
PAS councilors walked out in protest, while representatives of MAN, PSRM and PCRM approved the decision with 27 votes.
Also today, the “Propaganda of Love” protest was organized before the city hall.
The non-governmental organization that promotes the rights of the LGBT+ community, GENDERDOC-M (GDM), condemned the initiative and demanded that the draft decision be withdrawn before it is approved. GENDERDOC-M qualified the draft as “a serious violation of fundamental human rights—the right to freedom of expression, assembly and equality before the law.”
We recall that Ion Ceban announced, in early May, his intention to ban the Pride 2025 march.
"I am against any demonstrations and activities that aim at LGBT propaganda. I asked for an order prohibiting propaganda activities in educational institutions, in any form," Ceban declared in early May.
In response, GDM Administrator and LGBT Rights Lobby and Advocacy Program Coordinator, Angela Frolov accused the mayor of the capital of exceeding his powers.
"He decided to expand his functions and start rewriting the laws. He sees Chisinau as a "state within a state" and believes he can make laws from his own head. Dear Ion Ceban, maybe you should start with the city's problems, because you still have a lot of work to do there, and let the legislative do its job?", Angela Frolov wrote on social media.
The Pride March in the Republic of Moldova, also known as Moldova Pride, is an annual event organized to promote the rights and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community in the country. This topic has been sensitive in recent years due to social and political divisions in the Republic of Moldova, especially between pro-European and pro-Russian tendencies.
