All three of our reporters started talking to people in the crowd, all of which confirmed being paid between 200 and 400 lei. Most of them also said that this was not the first time they had taken part in such actions organised by the Shor Party, having previously attended rallies in support of Marina Tauber, when she had been detained. A woman that was complaining about not getting food or water in previous protests where she participated also explained the organisational structure at local level: “There are more ‘starz’ (superiors) and then more ‘mladz’ (inferiors). They have in each district their ‘spisoc’ (list)”. Shor pays them all “zarplată” (salary).”
In the group Daniela CALMIS was in, the organisers’ supervision was stricter. “Protesters” who showed less enthusiasm were immediately admonished. Ana, one of the leaders of the group, authoritatively reproaches one of the participants: “Tania, shout ‘Down with Maia SANDU!’. Stop talking!”.
At around 5pm, although fiery speeches were still echoing from the stage, the tired and hungry people began to leave the demonstration, heading for the place where the transport they had been brought on was parked. After getting off the bus, ZdG reporter Vasile URSACHI was caught up by Lidia, the woman who accompanied his group from the beginning to the end. The woman informed him about how she would receive the money for the protest, mentioning the city hall’s involvement in the scheme.ZdG: Am I going to have to come to the town hall to get the money?
-Lidia: No, I go to the town hall, they give me the money and then I give it to you.
-ZdG: And it’s 200 lei, did I hear?
-Lidia : 400, that’s what they promised us today.
Over the next few days ZdG journalists were called by the organisers and asked to participate in the protests again, with promises that they would soon receive their money for September 18. The women avoided speaking directly, and when asked about the money they warned that “you never discuss such things over the phone”. Anatolie ESANU, although he was unable to attend the 18 September protest because he could not fit on the bus, left a contact number in the list of an organiser, who subsequently called him several times, including late in the evening, and was promised, in coded language, “four colăcei” (a Moldovan type of bread), meaning 400 lei, to attend one of the protests organised during the week.