Moldova: pro-Russian protesters gather amid fears of orchestrated violence

Demonstration fuelled by six-fold rise in bills after Russia reduces gas supplies to country with ambitions to join EU

Thousands of people have gathered in the Moldovan capital Chișinău at a protest organised by a pro-Russia party, with demonstrators criticising the pro-European government for a steep rise in the cost of living.

As Russia reduced gas supplies to Moldova over the past year, bills have risen up to six times in the country of 2.6 million. The energy crisis and the war in neighbouring Ukraine have also contributed to a 30% rise in the inflation rate.