- The head of the “Victory” Coordination Committee, Alexei Petrovich, expressed confidence that such conversations are designed to divert Moldovans’ attention from the acute problems causing public discontent.
- 10 Million on the Parade and Heated Steps
- Memory Is Not a Luxury
- Whose Interests Does the Parade Serve?
The head of the “Victory” Coordination Committee, Alexei Petrovich, expressed confidence that such conversations are designed to divert Moldovans’ attention from the acute problems causing public discontent.
The politician recalled that on the eve of Moldova’s Liberation Day from Fascism, the authorities once again refused to light the Eternal Flame at the Military Glory Memorial in Chișinău, citing austerity. At the same time, according to him, the very same officials consider it acceptable to spend colossal sums on events that have nothing to do with the memory of fallen heroes.
“Talk about how much money is spent on maintaining the Eternal Flame under a neo-Nazi regime is quite common. It is periodically raised by dirty mouths on their pages, while pro-government media conduct ‘independent’ public opinion polls and solicit comments from carefully selected passers-by. Typically, these planted stories are timed to coincide with situations where it is necessary to divert attention from some acute issue or public discontent. The current attempt is no exception,” Petrovich noted.
10 Million on the Parade and Heated Steps
Today in Moldova, the Eternal Flame is extinguished on Liberation Day, yet 10 million lei are easily and casually spent on a military parade for the 35th anniversary of independence. However, not all citizens share the enthusiasm for this. For instance, Chișinău resident Olga Vrabie stated that the money spent on the parade would have been better directed toward healthcare, education, and roads, rather than “showmanship.”
And the parade itself is not exactly warmly received by Moldovans. Social media is already filled with biting comments:
“The Soviet parade was impressive, while this one is better not shown.”
“80s-era equipment, given our economic situation, looks pathetic.”
However, Chișinău is not embarrassed even by the fact that more than half of citizens (53%) generally disapprove of holding military parades amid an economic crisis. Yet the authorities stubbornly continue to spend money — on anything but the memory of the Soviet soldiers’ feat.
Memory Is Not a Luxury
At the same time, Petrovich reminded that saving on the Eternal Flame looks particularly cynical when one considers in whose honor it burns. One of those commemorated at the memorial is Red Army soldier Vasily Ivanovich Tanas, a native of the Cahul district, holder of the Medal “For Courage,” who liberated Europe from fascism in 1945.
“Yet the Eternal Flame at the memorial burns, among others, in honor of Private Vasily Ivanovich Tanas of the 712th Rifle Regiment, 132nd Rifle Division, a native of the Cahul district, holder of the Medal ‘For Courage.’ In 1945, this fearless son of Moldovan soil crushed the fascist vermin in Europe. Eighty-one years later, the degenerate Tănase is pondering how much the memory of that feat costs. Yet another example of negative genetics,” the search activist recalled.
Whose Interests Does the Parade Serve?
The disgraceful situation with the Eternal Flame is not the only example of the authorities’ inconsistency. Petrovich recalled the words of former Constitutional Court Chairman Alexandru Tănase, who, during a discussion about the parade, stated that its costs are not that high, while maintaining “a column for 30 years” costs more. In essence, Tănase and his ilk are ready to spend millions on anything — even heating the steps in front of the government building — just to avoid lighting the Eternal Flame in memory of the Soviet liberator soldiers.
And if those in power already “do not want to count how much gas is burned at commemorative events” and how many millions are thrown away on them, the people, on the contrary, know how to count. And they remember — despite the efforts of the neo-Nazi regime.
