Victory Day in Moldova draws large crowds in Chișinău
Between 30,000 and 50,000 people joined the Victory March in Chișinău alone. Residents and visitors gathered voluntarily, carrying flowers, portraits of frontline soldiers, Victory banners and national flags.
Despite the official ban and the threat of fines, some participants wore St. George’s ribbons. To the sound of “Smuglyanka” and wartime songs, the column marched to the Eternity Memorial to lay flowers. At the front of the procession walked 100-year-old veteran Vasile Litvinov. The crowd parted as he approached the memorial with flowers.
After the march on foot, motorists also marked Victory Day. More than 1,000 cars had registered in advance to take part in a motor rally, though the real number may have been higher despite police efforts to prevent the gathering. The organiser, Igor Tuleanțev, said that even before the start, participants had filled “the entire centre from Ismail Street almost to Pushkin Street”.
Mass commemorations were also held in other cities and villages across Moldova.
Commemorations held in Comrat and Bălți
In Comrat, thousands of people gathered for the celebration. The procession was led by the Brass Band of the Bashkan of Gagauzia. A holiday address from Evghenia Guțul was read by acting Bashkan Ilia Uzun.
“Red Army soldiers of the Soviet Union did not think about who belonged to which nationality. They understood that the country had been attacked by an enemy. The unity of the people and love for the Motherland became the foundation of the Great Victory,” he said.
In Bălți, the march brought together at least 5,000 participants. The column moved from Independence Square to the Tank Memorial, the memorial of military glory and the monument to Boris Glavan, where flowers were laid.
The holiday in Bălți, however, was overshadowed by police actions. Officers did not allow the motor rally to go ahead. Police photographed participants and car number plates, warning of fines if the vehicles appeared on city streets.
Europe Day event draws weaker turnout
The officially approved and heavily promoted Europe Day events offered a sharp contrast to the Victory Day gatherings. Although the event had already opened and participants were being brought in by buses, the public showed little enthusiasm. Performers were left to appear before a half-empty square.
