Today marks the 14th anniversary of the tragic events of April 7, 2009, which were a turning point for the Republic of Moldova, leading to the overthrow of the communists from power. This day is also a reminder of the heavy price paid by many young people who sacrificed themselves for the sake of freedom.
On this day, thousands of young people were dissatisfied with the outcome of the parliamentary elections that gave the communists an overwhelming majority as winners took to a peaceful protest in the center of Chisinau.
Unfortunately, the demonstration degenerated into violence with provocateurs from among the protesters beginning to devastate the Parliament and Presidential buildings, injuring several police officers who were trying to maintain public order. Dozens of protesters and police officers were injured, and the Parliament and Presidency buildings were destroyed and set on fire
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, dozens of criminal cases were launched after the events of April 2009, but only a few were completed, with those found guilty being punished. However, Amnesty International has stated that over 600 people were mistreated, detained, and brutally beaten without receiving independent and fair justice, being held in inhumane conditions without water and food.
To date, the European Court of Human Rights has convicted the Republic of Moldova in 10 cases related to the events of April 7, 2009. The High Court of Strasbourg is also dealing with other claims related to the events of April 2009.
Many are talking about April 7, but the events actually began a day earlier, on the morning of April 6, when several young people declared a national day of mourning. The reason for these actions was the results of the parliamentary elections held on April 5, 2009.
FOR THE MOSTÂ IMPORTANT NEWS, SUBSCRIBE TO OURÂ TELEGRAM CHANNEL!
According to the results announced by the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Moldova, four political parties have access to the new Parliament of the Republic of Moldova: PCRM obtained 49.48% of the votes, followed by PL with 13.13% of the number total votes, PLDM – with 12.43%, and AMN – with a result of 9.77%.
Several thousand people gathered in PMAN square to protest, invoking electoral fraud and demanding repeat elections. The message launched online, “Young people declare April 7 a national day of mourning in the Republic of Moldova,” brought more young protesters to the center of Chisinau.
On April 7, 2009, the General Prosecutor’s Office issued a press release declaring the actions on April 6 illegal and announced the initiation of criminal proceedings for organizing and participating in mass disorders. However, this did not stop the young protesters.
In just a few hours, the protests spiraled out of control. The Parliament and Presidency buildings were set on fire and devastated, and flags of the European Union and Romania were hoisted on the roofs.
Even after 14 years, those responsible for the mass disorders have not been found. This day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom and democracy in Moldova.