Independence Day of the Republic of Moldova

{{Infobox holiday

|image = Independence Day (2003). (30232384881).jpg

|caption =Fireworks in Chișinău on Independence Day in 2003

|official_name =

|nickname =

| significance=The day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova

|observedby = Moldova

|begins = 1991

|ends =

|duration = 1 day

|frequency = annual

|date = 27 August

|celebrations = Fireworks, Concerts, Parades

|observances =

|relatedto = Declaration of Independence

|type = National

}}

The Independence Day ({{langx|ro|Ziua Independenței}}) is the national day of Moldova commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union on 27 August 1991.{{Cite web |title=Moldova celebrates Independence Day |url=http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/moldova-independence-day/ |access-date=26 August 2021}}[http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/moldova-independence-day/ Moldova celebrates Independence Day]

Background

File:On holiday Limba Noastra (31 August 1989). (28871934074).jpg

File:25 річниці незалежності Молдови 01.jpg

The Supreme Soviet of Moldova held independent elections between February and June 1990.{{sfn|Olson|Norton|1996|p=160}} The elections resulted in Mircea Snegur being elected as speaker of the parliament (the effective head of state), with Mircea Druc as prime minister.{{cite book |last1=Derbyshire |first1=J. Denis |last2=Derbyshire |first2=Ian |title=Encyclopedia of World Political Systems |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781317471561 |page=407 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RyAGDAAAQBAJ&q=udp+gambia+%22social+democracy%22&pg=PA407}} On 23 June 1990, the parliament adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic, which, mainly stipulated the supremacy of Moldovan laws over those of the Soviet Union.{{cite book |title=Statehood and the Law of Self-Determination |volume=43 |series=Developments in International Law Series |author=D. Raič |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |year=2002 |isbn=9789041118905}}

On 27 August 1991, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova voted to adopt the Moldovan Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union.{{Cite web |title=День независимости Республики Молдова |url=https://www.calend.ru/holidays/0/0/1438/ |access-date=26 August 2021 |website=Calend.ru}}[http://www.calend.ru/holidays/0/0/1438/ День независимости Республики Молдова]{{Cite web |url=http://enews.md/articles/view/4051/ |title=Декларация о независимости — фальшивый и безграмотный акт |access-date=28 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805043903/http://enews.md/articles/view/4051/ |archive-date=5 August 2016 |url-status=dead }} That same day, the Popular Front of Moldova (FPM) organized a mass demonstration in Chișinău, that later became known as the Great National Assembly, which pressured Soviet authorities to adopt a language law on 31 August 1989, which proclaimed the Romanian language to be the state language of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.[http://www.iatp.md/ladom/downloads/M3.doc Legea cu privire la functionarea limbilor vorbite pe teritoriul RSS Moldovenesti Nr.3465-XI din 01.09.89 Vestile nr.9/217, 1989] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219024839/http://www.iatp.md/ladom/downloads/M3.doc |date=19 February 2006 }} (Law regarding the usage of languages spoken on the territory of the Republic of Moldova): "Moldavian SSR supports the desire of the Moldovans that live across the borders of the Republic, and considering the existing linguistic Moldo-Romanian identity — of the Romanians that live on the territory of the USSR, of doing their studies and satisfying their cultural needs in their native language." On 21 December 1991, Moldova, along with ten other Soviet republics, signed the act that formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).{{cite web |page=138 |url=https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL(1994)054-e |date=8 September 1994 |publisher=Council of Europe |title=Agreements establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States}}

Holiday celebrations

Being a public holiday it is a free day for most of the people and employees, and in common with some other holidays, most companies do not open on 27 August each year.{{cite web |publisher=Lloyds Bank |url=https://www.lloydsbanktrade.com/en/market-potential/moldova/opening-hours |title=Business Practices in Moldova: Opening hours and bank holidays}} On this day, the President of the Republic gives a public speech, and officials lay flowers at the Stephen the Great Monument.{{Cite web |title=Moldovan Police Clash With Protesters On Independence Day |agency=Interfax and AP |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |date=27 August 2016 |access-date=27 August 2021 |url= https://www.rferl.org/a/moldovan-police-clash-with-protesters-on-independence-day/27949840.html}} A concert is also organized at the Great National Assembly Square.{{Cite web |title=Independence Day 2021 {{!}} Chisinau |author= |work=Fest.md |date= |access-date=27 August 2021 |url= https://www.fest.md/en/events/various/independence-day-2021--chisinau}} In 2001, 2011, 2016 and 2021, military parades have been held in the center of Chișinău, commemorating significant anniversaries of independence.{{Cite web |title=Moldova Independence Day |author= |work=TheFreeDictionary.com |date= |access-date=27 August 2021 |url= https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Moldova+Independence+Day}}{{Cite web |title=Ministry of Defense of Republic of Moldova |author= |work=Ministry of Defense (Moldova) |date=17 August 2011 |access-date=27 August 2021 |url= https://www.army.md/?lng=3&action=show&cat=122&obj=814#.WaN9wctOkwg}}{{Cite web |title=Российские военные приглашены на парад в честь 25-летия независимости Молдовы |trans-title=Russian military are invited to the parade in honor of the 25th anniversary of Moldova's independence |author= |work=Новости Приднестровья |date=19 July 2016 |access-date=27 August 2021 |url= https://novostipmr.com/ru/news/16-07-19/rossiyskie-voennye-priglasheny-na-parad-v-chest-25-letiya |language=ru}}{{Cite web |title=Pregătiri pentru Ziua Independenței R. Moldova. Militarii Armatei Naționale desfășoară antrenamente |trans-title=Preparations for the Independence Day of the Republic of Moldova. The soldiers of the National Army carry out trainings |last=Loredana |first=Buzdugan |work=Ziarul de Gardă |date=27 July 2021 |access-date=27 August 2021 |url= https://www.zdg.md/stiri/stiri-sociale/foto-pregatiri-pentru-ziua-independentei-r-moldova-militarii-armatei-nationale-desfasoara-antrenamente/ |language=ro}}

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Moldova, a national ceremony closed to the public was held in the Historical Hall of the Presidential Palace.{{Cite web |title=Глава государства принял участие в торжественной церемонии открытия Национального праздника "День Независимости Республики Молдова" |url=http://president.md/rus/presa/seful-statului-a-participat-la-ceremonia-festiva-de-inaugurare-a-sarbatorii-nationale-ziua-independentei-republicii-moldova |access-date=26 August 2021 |website=president.md |date=27 August 2020 |language=en}} That same year, in honor of the 29th anniversary of independence, a Turkish delegation, led by Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, inaugurated the consulate general of Turkey in Gagauzia, the first consulate opened in the region. He was accompanied by his Moldovan counterpart Oleg Țulea and Gagauzia Governor Irina Vlah.{{Cite web |date=27 August 2020 |title=Turkey inaugurates new consulate general in Moldova's Gagauzia |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/turkey-inaugurates-new-consulate-general-in-moldovasgagauzia |access-date=26 August 2021 |website=Daily Sabah}}https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/turkey-inaugurates-new-consulate-general-in-moldovasgagauzia/amp

Notes

References

{{Cite book |title=The New Parliaments of Central and Eastern Europe |last1=Olson |first1=David M. |last2=Norton |first2=Philip |publisher=Psychology Press |year=1996 |isbn=9780714642611 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jv0BPkZV01oC}}