The former pro-Russian president and the de facto leader of the Socialists Parrty, Igor Dodon, marched on May 9 2022, on the streets of Chisinau for Soviet Victory Day. Photo: BIRN/Madalin Necsutu Celebrating Victory Day, Pro-Russian Moldovans Defy Law on SymbolsMadalin NecsutuChisinauBIRNMay 9, 202214:05 Thousands of Moldovans marched in Chisinau on Monday to commemorate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, many wearing outlawed symbols of the former Soviet communist regime.
Several thousand people in Moldova’s capital Chisinau took part in an “Immortal Regiment” march on Monday, organised by the pro-Russian Socialist Party, PSRM, many of them breaking a new law that bans the display of symbols glorifying the former Soviet communist regime.
Moldovan police warned citizens not to use forbidden symbols at the commemorative events, but many disobeyed the order.
A man wearing a Soviet uniform and a banned St George’s fribbon on his chest stand in front of a riot police officer. Photo: BIRN/Madalin Necsutu
The Socialists summoned their supporters from all over the country for the day commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. It brought supporters to Chisinau by bus where it Youth Guard, consisting mainly of teenagers, marched with Soviet and Moldovan flags.
The Young Guard dressed in black and orange clothes to mark the forbidden orange-black ribbon of “St George” subliminally.
The participants all met up in the Grand National Assembly Square, in the centre of Chisinau, after which they set off on foot to the Eternitate [Eternity] memorial.
Women participating in the Victory Day march in Chisinau. Photo: BIRN/Madalin Necsutu
Participants in the march wore red flags with Soviet hammers and sickles, photos of those killed in World War II, and chanted: “Pobeda!” [“Victory”, in Russian].
At the head of the column were the former Moldovan presidents Igor Dodon and Vladimir Voronin and several leaders of the PSRM and the Communist Party, PCRM, with the black and orange ribbon of St George on their chests, again defying the law banning Soviet symbols.
Youth Guard of the Socialists Party dressed in black and orange, like the St George’s ribbon. Photo: BIRN/Madalin Necsutu
“I believe that the law banning this ribbon was a mistake. However, every citizen of Moldova has his opinion, and the vast majority of citizens today celebrate Victory Day,” said Dodon. He added that those who did not obey the law “should not be afraid of anything.”
The authorities announced that those who wore forbidden symbols such as St George’s ribbon would be fined.
Moldova’s pro-European Prime Minister, Natalia Gavrilita, and the President of the Parliament, Igor Grosu, laid flowers at the Eternity Memorial. Gavrilita stated that “they came to honour the memory of the deceased who lost their lives during World War II.”
On April 20, parliament voted to ban war-relaeted symbols, including the St George’s ribbon, which is widely used to show support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Individuals violating the ban risk fines of up to 9,000 Moldovan lei [about 450 euros] or community service from 30 to 60 hours.
A photo of a Soviet soldier was brought by his family to Eternity Memorial in Chisinau on May 9, 2022. Photo: BIRN/Madalin Necsutu
Legal entities can be fined for much more, up to 30,000 lei [1,500 euros].
While some participants in the march wore a two-tone ribbon on their chests, taking the risk of being fined, others were more cautious, merely wearing orange T-shirts and black jackets.
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