A total of 47 people who participated in the protest in Victoriei Square and committed anti-social acts were taken to police stations, the Bucharest Gendarmerie informed on Tuesday evening.

The quoted source said that, at the same time, people who committed anti-social acts are to be identified and evidence gathered against them based on operational footage and footage from public spaces.

Ten gendarmes were injured in various ways as a result of the violence, four of them being taken to hospital for further medical care, according to a Bucharest Gendarmerie release.

In the same context, 15 administrative fines totalling 21,500 lei were issued for breaches of the legal provisions in force.

Two vehicles belonging to the Gendarmerie were also damaged.

The Gendarmerie underscored that it was regrettable and concerning that some people chose to exercise their right to freedom of expression in this way and decided to provoke such violence, while also damaging part of the environment in the centre of the Capital.

Moreover, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) strongly condemns any form of violence.

The law enforcement forces did not respond to provocations, maintaining a proactive stance at all times and repeatedly seeking to defuse the situation through preventive measures, intervening only when the situation required it, the Gendarmerie mentioned, adding that the right to freedom of expression is a fundamental right of every citizen, however it must be exercised within the limits of the law and with observance for public order and safety.

The Gendarmerie is also calling on media representatives, civil society and commercial operators in the area to provide support by supplying footage from public spaces to help identify all people who committed illegal acts. The footage can be sent to spcfa@jandarmeriabucuresti.eu to be analysed by the specialist structures of the Bucharest Gendarmerie and made available to the competent authorities. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Karina Olteanu; EN - writing by: Rodica State)

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