President Maia Sandu addressed thousands of citizens gathered for the March of Sovereignty, commemorating 35 years since Moldova adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty on June 23, 1990. Speaking in front of the Presidential headquarters—the very building where Moldova’s first democratic Parliament voted to break away from the Soviet Empire—Sandu paid tribute to those who dared to shape the country’s future.
“Thirty-five years ago, right here in this building, a group of courageous and hopeful people voted for what the people loudly demanded – sovereignty, freedom, dignity. This was one of the first major victories of the National Liberation Movement,” said the President.
She emphasized that sovereignty is not merely proclaimed but built and defended, especially now, in the face of Russia’s ongoing hybrid war against Moldova.
“Russia tries to rewrite our history and weaken us from within. Defending our sovereignty has never been more urgent.”
A Warning and a Call Ahead of the 2025 Elections
Sandu warned about the threat of Moldova’s Parliament falling under Moscow’s influence and called on citizens to remain vigilant ahead of the crucial parliamentary elections scheduled for next autumn.
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“Moldova must have the power to decide its fate—and that’s exactly what we must do. Moldova’s Parliament must not fall into Moscow’s hands—it must remain in the hands of Moldovan citizens,” she said.
Recalling the Spirit of the ’90s
The President recalled key milestones from Moldova’s national revival: the return to the Romanian language and Latin script, the raising of the tricolor flag, the condemnation of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and the Declaration of Independence on August 27, 1991.
She also reaffirmed Moldova’s European path as a guarantee of sovereignty, peace, and dignity for all its citizens.
“If today we live in a free Moldova, it is thanks to those who, 35 years ago, did not remain silent. They were not frightened. They did not retreat. And we cannot afford to retreat either,” Sandu declared.
“We must move forward—with heads held high, honest work, and a clear voice. Let us support honest people—true patriots of this country—and choose a future where life is valued, not scorned. We share a duty to carry on our common aspiration: a sovereign, just, and free Moldova—at home, in Europe.”
Voices from the First Democratic Parliament
Academician Ion Hadarca, the first deputy speaker of Moldova’s democratic Parliament, also delivered a moving speech. He recalled the Declaration’s symbolic and legal power, highlighting that “the bearer of sovereignty is the people.”
“Sovereignty is like spring water—crystal clear—or like the blooming of lindens that bathe us in the light of freedom and dignity,” Hadarca said. “The day of sovereignty, located between two fatal dates—June 19, the Tighina massacre, and June 28, the Soviet occupation of Bessarabia—stands as an act of supreme revenge and the dignity of a nation rising from its knees.”
A Cultural Tribute
The event concluded with a powerful rendition of the song “Sovereignty,” with lyrics by Ion Hadarca and music by Ion Aldea-Teodorovici, performed by Cristofor Alde Teodorovici and Simona.
Thousands participated in the March of Sovereignty, which underscored both the historic significance of June 23 and the current struggle to safeguard Moldova’s democratic values and independent future.