Anti-government rallies were held in Comrat, the capital Gagauzia region, and the city of Orhei on Sunday, demanding a referendum to determine Moldova's foreign policy course.

Footage shows protesters with flags and posters reading 'The People Decide' while politicians delivered speeches.

"We are patriots, we stand for a better life," said one of the protesters.

Another demonstrator added that a referendum would show the real choice of the country's population.

"There is our Gagauz autonomy, there is the will of the people. There will be a referendum and then we will see where the people want to go: to join the European Union or stay on the neutral side. That is it," he said.

Ilan Shor, Chairman of the opposition Shor party addressed protesters in Comrat and announced the beginning of the legal procedure for the referendum organisation to determine the geopolitical trajectory of Moldova.

According to the party press-service, about 60,000 people participated in the rallies in Comrat, Orhei and Balti. At the time of publication, there was no official information about detentions.

On the same day, the 'European Moldova' rally organised by the country's government in support of integration with the European Union was held in Chisinau.

Earlier, the Constitutional Court of Moldova, at the request of the government, began to check the activity of the "Shor" party for constitutionality. The next session will be held on June 12.