Chisinau LGBT+ March Ban: Mayor Defiant, Chancellery Responds

Chisinau's LGBT+ March Ban: State Chancellery Responds to Mayor's Defiance Chisinau, Moldova – The Chisinau Municipal Council's recent decision to ban LGBT+ marches has sparked a clash between local authorities and the State Chancellery. Mayor Ion Ceban has firmly stated that the ban will not be lifted, despite a notification from the Chancellery highlighting legal irregularities. The State Chancellery's response clarifies that their notification was not intended to impose decisions on the local administration, but rather to signal potential legal violations. "We don't impose decisions; we notify of legal inconsistencies," a Chancellery representative explained (paraphrased). Mayor Ceban, however, remains unyielding. In a recent statement, he declared, "If they want it canceled so badly, let them cancel it. We won't do it, and any attempt will be contested." (translated from Romanian). This situation underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding LGBT+ rights in Moldova and the complexities of local governance. The legal battle over the march ban is expected to continue.