Commemoration of World War II victims: flower laying, march, and military meals
On May 9, the heroes who fell during World War II were commemorated at the "Eternitate" Memorial Complex in Chisinau. The event included flower-laying ceremonies and moments of silence. Representatives from the central authorities, various parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties, European officials, and diplomats attended the event. Additionally, a march was organized in the center of Chisinau to honor the fallen heroes.
At 7:00 AM, representatives of the Alternativa Bloc began laying flowers at the "Eternitate" Memorial Complex. "Today, on Victory Day, as we do every year, we come here to honor and remember those who fought in World War II," stated Ion Ceban, leader of the National Alternative Movement.
At 08:00, the Parliament Speaker, Igor Grosu, along with the country's president, Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Dorin Recean, and the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, joined deputies and ministers to pay tribute to the victims of World War II who sacrificed their lives in the fight for peace.
The head of the legislative expressed gratitude to the 25 living veterans, stating, “Let us never forget their sacrifice. We wish the surviving veterans good health, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their courage and sincere desire for peace.”
Maia Sandu encouraged citizens to honor the memory of the fallen with respect and in silence: "Our duty is to preserve this peace and to honor their heroism and sacrifice with quietness, not through loud celebrations."
The Victory March took place in Chisinau, starting at 10:00 AM from the monument to Stephen the Great and the Holy and to the Memorial. The leaders of the Party of Socialists, the Victory/Pobeda Bloc, and the Inima Moldovei Party, along with their supporters, led the procession.
Among those present at the flower-laying ceremony were former presidents Vladimir Voronin and Igor Dodon, the leader of the PCRM, and former Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, president of the "Viitorul Moldovei" party.
Additionally, Oleg Ozerov, the ambassador-designate of the Russian Federation in Chisinau, participated in the commemoration event.
Igor Dodon stated that anyone who wished to partake could join the organised march, emphasising that it marks "Victory Day." "Together, in a single column, without party flags and with portraits of our heroes, we walked to the 'Eternitate' Memorial Complex to honor the memory of the liberators," Dodon said.
The festivities included wartime songs and the display of former Soviet Union flags.
Simultaneously, the "Victoria" Bloc, consisting of parties linked to the "Șor" group, hosted a concert in Orhei. Attendees at the event were provided with a "military meal."
In the Republic of Moldova, May 9 has been commemorated for the past thirty years through various ceremonies, public events, and symbolic actions. This date uniquely combines Victory Day, which honors the end of World War II, with Europe Day. Over time, it has gained a dual significance, as seen in how both authorities and citizens choose to celebrate and honor the occasion.
