Thousands of people took to the streets of Chisinau to participate in the Victory March

Thousands of Moldovans, despite the prohibitions from their authorities, took to the streets of Chisinau in order to take part in the Victory March. This was reported to Izvestia on May 9 by journalist Vasily Moiseenko.

"People are not afraid of anything anyway. They openly talk about why they decided to be here today on such an important day for them," he said.

The media representative added that within the framework of such events, provocateurs may approach their participants. As Moiseenko explained, they are starting to ask questions about the purposes of the St. George ribbons used by their fellow citizens. To which they receive calm explanations.

"This is a symbol of Victory. I wear it with honor and dignity. And I will wear it, no matter what obstacles. This is my right and I am ready to defend it. Thank you to my grandfather for the victory!" said one of the residents of the city, Alexander Nastas.

Former President of the Republic Igor Dodon, who also took part in the celebrations, said that most of the people living in his country consider themselves the heirs of the winners. As he explained, nothing can influence this self-knowledge, even the policy pursued in the state over the past few years.

"No amount of propaganda in recent years, which, unfortunately, has intensified, will change this. <...> We have always said that 9 [May] is Victory Day. Therefore, you see, even if they are trying to organize a Europe Day nearby, several dozen people [gathered] there, and there will be several tens of thousands here," the ex—president said.

Against its background, crowds of people can be seen holding posters with images of their relatives. Today, in addition to the festive procession, a retro car rally will also be held in Chisinau.

Faced with trumpets: what changed in Moldova after the presidential election

Maia Sandu pressures the opposition and prepares for a new vote

On the same day, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, together with Parliament Speaker Igor Grossu and Prime Minister Alexander Muntian, laid flowers at the eternal flame of the Eternity Memorial Complex in Chisinau. During this procedure, politicians dressed in mourning clothes behaved with restraint. The Moldovan leader, during a brief conversation with representatives of the press, urged her citizens not to attend high-profile events.

On the same day, Izvestia showed how residents of the Estonian city of Narva laid flowers at the monument to Soviet soldiers-liberators. Similar events were held on May 9 in Kiev, Chisinau, Warsaw, Riga and Berlin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Victory Day Parade, pointed out Russia's refusal to divide Victory into its own and someone else's. According to him, on May 9, gratitude is given to the fathers and grandfathers who fought together on the fields of the Second World War, bringing the long-awaited victory over Nazism closer. On the same day, Izvestia published footage of thousands of congratulatory leaflets being dropped by servicemen of the Southern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the occasion of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (WWII) at the positions of soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).