CHISINAU, April 8, 2009 (RFE/RL) -- A Moldovan opposition leader says the April 7 unrest in the capital, Chisinau, was provoked by President Vladimir Voronin and his government.
Serafim Urechean, the leader of the Our Moldova party, told RFE/RL's Moldovan Service that Voronin and the government organized the violence to cover up the fraud that occurred during the April 5 parliamentary elections.
Official results show that the Communist Party won about 50 percent of the votes. Urechean says the results were fixed. He adds that extra ballots were printed and used to falsify the poll results.
On April 6-7, thousands of Chisinau residents protested the election results and clashed with police. At least one person was reported killed and dozens were injured. Urechean claims police used electric shocks on detained protesters.
Police regained control of the presidential palace and parliament on April 8.
Russian Duma deputies on April 7 said they are concerned by the situation in Chisinau and the fact that some Romanian flags were carried by protesters.