Meetings, demonstrations, and pickets are some of the forms of peaceful assembly aimed at expressing ideas and opinions and they are protected by the Constitution.
What is an assembly?
An assembly is an organised gathering of people, in order to meet with others and express ideas and opinions (for example, about a variety of socially significant political, economic, or social issues). A meeting, demonstration, picket, rally, or other gathering is equivalent to an assembly in Moldova. The law regulates assemblies which are organised outside buildings, in other words in public places that are visible to others.
An assembly may be organised in the form of a gathering in a public place, such as a street or a square. It can also be in the form of a movement along roads, streets, squares, sidewalks, or other areas built for traffic in order to express ideas and opinions (for example, about a variety of socially significant political, economic, or social issues). Participants may use posters, slogans and banners in the languages of their choice, musical instruments, other attributes or audio equipment, which may or may not be accompanied by speeches or addresses in the languages of their choice.
The right to conduct assemblies subject to minimum formalities, but it is not unrestricted. As a general rule, the local municipality should be informed in advance about the planned assembly and no further permission to hold the assembly is needed from the local authorities to hold the event.
important The current Law on assemblies was adopted in the Republic of Moldova in 2008 and since then it has been considered one of the best and progressive laws in Europe regulating freedom of assembly.
About this section
This section will explain how to organize events of peaceful assembly lawfully, and what kind of restrictions the state may impose in compliance with human rights requirements.