23 August declared European day of remembrance of victims of all totalitarian, authoritarian regimes in Moldova

Chisinau, 21 August /MOLDPRES/ – The Cabinet of Ministers has approved, on 21 August, the Decision regarding the declaration of 23 August as the European Day for commemorating the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes.

According to decision, the day of 23 August 2019 is declared a day of mourning, as a result, in all localities, as well as in diplomatic and consular missions of Moldova abroad, the state flag will be flown at half – mast.

On 23 August, at 10:00, "in commemoration of victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, regardless of ideology, the Government and public authorities will keep a moment of silence".

The project was elaborated for the purpose of commemorating in Moldova the victims of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, such as Nazism, Stalinism, fascist and communist regimes, based on declarations and recommendations of international forums, in particular the Declaration of the European Parliament of 23 September 2008 on proclamation of 23 August as the European Day of commemoration of the victims of Stalinism and Nazism and of the European Parliament Resolution of 02 April 2009 on European consciousness and totalitarianism, states the project informative note.

From the perspective of victims, it does not matter which regime deprived them of liberty, tortured them, killed them or what the reason was, and one day of memory of all victims would come to unite the society around compassion, understanding and acknowledgment of suffering of all victims and family members of victims and ensure that the ones which actively opposed totalitarian regimes and fought against tyranny and oppression will not be forgotten, said PM Maia Sandu at the Government meeting.

The Government aims to ensure the coherence of a memory policy towards the victims of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, as to condemn all crimes against humanity and serious human rights violations by all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, as well as educate young generation in the spirit of respect for victims of all totalitarian and undemocratic regimes.