Romanian Anti-Green-Pass Protesters Fined for Riot Before Parliament

Right-wing protesters who forced their way into the courtyard of Romania's parliament in a protest against possible mandatory COVID vaccination passes have been handed hundreds of fines by police.

Romanian police handed over 117 fines worth 198,800 lei [40,000 euros] to participants in a protest organised on Tuesday by the extreme right-wing Alliance for the Union of the Romanians, AUR, and a couple of hundred supporters, against the possible introduction of mandatory so-called Green Certificates in the workplace.

During the protests outside parliament against the possible mandatory use of COVID-19 certificates by employees, four cars were vandalized and hundreds of protesters entered the courtyard by the main entrance.

Authorities say they are investigating several crimes – destruction of four vehicles, disturbance of public order and violation of professional headquarters.

“We are continuing investigations to identify and sanction other people who committed anti-social acts,” police said in a press release.

AUR co-founder and deputy George Simion defiantly announced that the protests would continue.

On the other hand, the liberal deputy Alexandru Muraru announced on Wednesday that he had officially notified the General Prosecutor’s Office and the police of the use of Nazi symbols during the protests.

“A photo with a swastika drawn on the European Union flag by AUR protesters represents … a sign of incitement to violence and hatred, which seriously damaged Romania’s image in … the world,” he said. “Such acts of vandalism cannot go unpunished,” stated Muraru.

Interior Minister Lucian Bode on Tuesday said that the AUR protest against Green Certificates had nothing to do with free expression and democracy. He also said he asked the Gendarmes not to use force. “I constantly told the police to act calmly, to be calm, to be firm, but not to use force and violence in any way,” Bode said.

“It is unfortunate that 32 years after the Romanian Revolution, when the heroes of the Revolution died for our freedom, for freedom of expression, we see such manifestations that have nothing to do with the freedom of expression and the democracy,” he added.

Bode said that the AUR parliamentarians who invited the protesters to the courtyard of the parliament had b een monitored and will also answer before the law.

Protesters at the ‘No Green Pass’ rally in front of the parliament in Bucharest on December 21, 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/Robert Ghement

Protesters climb into the courtyard of the parliament during the ‘No Green Pass’ rally in Bucharest on December 21, 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/Robert Ghement

People attend the ‘No Green Pass’ rally in front of the parliament in Bucharest on December 21, 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/Robert Ghement

A participant holds a banner reading ‘We want freedom, no passports’ during the ‘No Green Pass’ rally in Bucharest on December 21, 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/Robert Ghement