Pro-Russian march in Chisinau on Victory Day. Participants displayed a symbol prohibited by law
Thousands of people participated on Saturday in the Victory March organized in the center of Chisinau by the pro-Russian forces, wearing two-color black and orange ribbons on their chests, even though flowers and portraits are prohibited by law, informs News.ro. The designated ambassador of Russia in Chisinau, Oleg Ozerov, told the official Russian news agency TASS that Victory Day remains a “holy” holiday for the inhabitants of Moldova, despite the attempts of the current government of the republic to diminish its importance.
The demonstrators from Chisinau marched from the center of the capital towards the “Eternitate” Memorial Complex. Accompanied by brass bands and Soviet military songs, the column was led by deputies and leaders of pro-Russian parties from the Republic of Moldova. The former president Igor Dodon, together with his wife, the vice-president of the Parliament Vlad Bătrîncea, the socialist deputy Zinaida Greceanîi (former prime minister), the communist deputy Diana Caraman and the leader of the “Future of Moldova” party, the unaffiliated deputy Vasile Tarlev (also former prime minister), were seen at the demonstration, reports NewsMaker.
The Russian ambassador also participated in the march
Towards the end of the march, the ambassador-at-large of the Russian Federation in Chisinau, Oleg Ozerov, joined the column.
Both the Russian diplomat and several politicians present wore the “Saint George” ribbon on their chests, banned in Moldova. From 2022, the “Saint George” ribbon, as well as the symbols Z and V, associated with Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, are prohibited by law in the Republic of Moldova. Individuals risk fines of up to 9,000 lei for displaying them, and legal entities – sanctions of up to 18,000 lei.
Some participants came dressed in Soviet war uniforms and sang, in chorus, “Katiusha”, “Victory!”, “Ura-Ura-Ura!”, “We are the descendants of Victory!” and “We remember, we are proud!” – these are just some of the slogans chanted by them.
The PSRM leader, Igor Dodon, claims that “tens of thousands of people” would have participated in the demonstration, “despite the bans and restrictions”.
In a statement to NewsMaker, Government representatives urged politicians to avoid messages that divide and divide society.
In addition to the Victory March, the European City is also organized in the center of Chisinau, dedicated to Europe Day, and the evening will end with a concert in the Great National Assembly Square, organized by the government.
“We will celebrate another 1,500 years”
The Russian ambassador in Chisinau, Oleg Ozerov, declared that Victory Day still remains a holy holiday for the inhabitants of Moldova, despite the attempts of the current government of the republic to diminish its importance. “A huge number of people who came today, early in the morning, to this memorial to pay tribute to the defenders of their Motherland, lay flowers and talk with each other. And what I see today proves that Victory Day is a holy day not only for the citizens of Russia, but also for the citizens of other states, primarily from the post-Soviet space,” the diplomat noted, answering the question of a TASS correspondent during a discussion with journalists.
“Some are starting to say: Come on, it's been more than 80 years, and you're still celebrating! Yes, we're going to celebrate this for another 1,500 years, because it's a celebration that's in our blood, in our veins, in our genes!”, commented Ozerov.
According to TASS, during the morning, diplomats from Azerbaijan, Belarus and Kazakhstan came to lay flowers at the Eternity monument.
Also TASS, the official news agency of the Russian state, notes that on Friday, at a press conference in Chisinau, the president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and the head of the European External Action Service, Kaja Kallas, urged the inhabitants of Moldova to celebrate Europe Day on May 9. The main square in Chisinau was reserved for this celebration. However, the largest events will take place on Saturday outside of it, TASS claims. As the president of the Coordination Council of Russian compatriots, Aleksei Petrovici, told TASS, Victory Day will be celebrated in all cities of Moldova, where marches, flower-laying ceremonies, car races and other events are planned.
According to various estimates, approximately 400,000 Moldovan soldiers fought in the ranks of the Red Army, 50,000 of them were rewarded for their bravery and 20 were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The war affected almost every family in the country, therefore, on May 9, hundreds of thousands of people come to the soldiers' graves, TASS reports.
