CHISINAU (Sputnik) — Several hundred activists of the opposition Socialist Party in Moldova gathered in the central square of Chisinau on Sunday to protest against US troops’ presence in the Eastern European country, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
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Earlier on Sunday, a military exhibition that included equipment from the United States opened at the same square. US soldiers, involved in military exercises in Moldova, alongside local troops, participated in a commemorative event to honor the victims of World War II a day before the Victory Day celebrations.
"We want Moldova to remain a neutral state," parliament member Vlad Batrincea said, adding that the presence of the US equipment in Chisinau is "unlawful."
Around 165 Moldovan Ground Forces soldiers and 198 US troops, alongside 58 pieces of US hardware and 40 Moldovan sapper equipment and support vehicles, are taking part in the Dragon Pioneer 2016 drills that kicked off in the republic on May 2.
