The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova plans to organize the May 9 march from Great National Assembly Square to the Eternity Memorial Complex in Chisinau. The announcement came during a press conference by PSRM deputy Vlad Batrincea, who said the party faces difficulties in organizing the event and blamed certain state institutions.
According to the deputy, PSRM will organize the event legally. Several commemorative organizations and movements will also take part in organizing the march.
PSRM representatives also announced a series of initiatives planned between March and May, including flash mobs, the installation of commemorative plaques with the names of veterans and tree planting campaigns.
The Socialists have also proposed granting 50,000 lei to veterans of World War II. Batrincea added that party activists will visit these veterans.
“Regardless of which army these veterans served in, there are very few of them left and they need support from the state. Today we announce the initiative through which each veteran will receive state assistance of 50,000 lei,” Batrincea said.
The May 9 march takes place annually and usually brings together several pro Russian political parties in Chisinau. Politicians say the event commemorates veterans who fought against Nazism.
After the start of the war in Ukraine, the march became controversial because many participants wore the St. George ribbon, which authorities consider a symbol associated with the aggression against Ukraine. An exception allows the ribbon when people wear it together with medals or decorations awarded to participants of World War II.
Under Moldovan law, authorities also prohibit the use of the symbols “Z” and “V”, which they associate with the Russian military campaign.