Protest Strikes Spread in Soviet Republic of Moldavia
Strikes in Moldavia against a pending language law spread on Friday, and the southern Soviet republic’s government appealed for calm, the official news agency Tass reported.
It said railroad workers at Bendery and four other stations held two-hour strikes. More than 90 factories were idled on Thursday.
About 50,000 people attended a rally in Tiraspol to urge postponement of the law, which would make the language of the Moldavian majority the official one for the republic. Moldavians make up 64% of the population.
Protesters in Moldavia also say the government allowed too little time for public discussion of the law before the legislature considers it on Tuesday. The draft law was published by the official press last Sunday.
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