LIVE, VIDEO // Republic of Moldova in mourning: Gheorghe Urschi laid to rest with state honors

UPDATE 13:00 // The farewell procession ended at 12:50, and the funeral cortege headed toward the Central Cemetery on Armenească Street.

UPDATE 12:00 // A mourning rally is taking place, where President Maia Sandu, public figures and colleagues from the artistic community have evoked the complex personality of Gheorghe Urschi. The rally is followed by a memorial service.

UPDATE 11:50 // In a moment of profound emotion and gratitude, the entire leadership of the state – President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu and Speaker of Parliament Igor Grosu – came to the National Palace to bid farewell to Master Gheorghe Urschi, the man who offered smiles and light to an entire nation.

The presence of the leaders of the Republic of Moldova was solemn yet deeply respectful. Among flowers and memories, they paid their last tribute to the one who, like no other, knew how to turn humor into art and bring people together through sincerity and truth. The gesture was not only official, but deeply human. It was a sign that genuine cultural values and the people who embodied them are not forgotten, but honored at the highest level.

In front of the coffin, silence spoke louder than any speech – a silence that contained the gratitude, respect and sorrow of an entire country.

Gheorghe Urschi was not only a great artist, but a part of the soul of this people. His passing leaves a void that is hard to fill, but also a legacy that will continue to live on through the generations that grew up with his laughter and wisdom.

UPDATE 11:15 // Several members of the Government, including Deputy Prime Minister Eugeniu Osmochescu, Minister of Culture Cristian Jardan, and Minister of Environment Gheorghe Hajder, have paid their respects to Gheorghe Urschi.

In an atmosphere of overwhelming solemnity, the painful silence at the National Palace was broken by the unmistakable voice of the Master, whose jokes once again echoed in the hall where, for decades, not a single seat was left unoccupied.

The funeral organizers prepared a moving visual tribute: on the large screens inside the Palace, memorable excerpts from his comedy shows were projected, along with emblematic moments from the films in which he starred. While on the screens the "King of Humor" radiated inexhaustible energy and provoked bursts of laughter through his brilliant irony, in the hall the gathered crowd wiped away their tears in silence. Stage colleagues, friends, as well as ordinary citizens passed by the Master’s coffin, many of them smiling bitterly as they watched the screens, remembering the moments when Gheorghe Urschi had been their only source of optimism in difficult times.

UPDATE 11:00 // Dozens of people – artists, colleagues, admirers of Gheorghe Urschi’s work – are coming to the National Palace to pay their last respects to one of Moldova’s most beloved figures.

Nicknamed the King of Humor of Moldova, Gheorghe Urschi marked entire generations through the intelligence, subtlety and authenticity of his humor. Through his shows, monologues and creations, he brought smiles and hope into people’s homes.

Throughout a remarkable career, he devotedly served art and the public, remaining a benchmark of theater, film and humor in the Republic of Moldova. His work will continue to inspire, and his name will remain inscribed with dignity in the cultural heritage of our country.

UPDATE // The coffin with the body of Master Gheorghe Urschi was laid out today at the "Nicolae Sulac" National Palace – the place that, for decades, became too small for the thousands of people who came to be healed by his incomparable humor.




Today, the Republic of Moldova bids farewell to one of the most emblematic figures of its national culture, Master Gheorghe Urschi, who passed away at the age of 78. People’s Artist, laureate of the National Prize and Knight of the Order of the Republic, honorary citizen of the municipality of Chișinău, the "King of Humor" leaves behind an invaluable artistic legacy and an immense void in the hearts of those who admired him over the decades.

On Tuesday, April 14, the body was laid out at "Saint Theodora of Sihla" Church in the capital, starting at 17:00. A group of priests held the wake service, offering the family and loved ones the first moment of reflection in memory of the one who was a fine observer of the Bessarabian spirit.

Wednesday, April 15, is marked by special solemnity, having been declared a national day of mourning by decree of President Maia Sandu.

The funeral program continued in the early morning hours, between 08:00 and 09:30, with the religious service and memorial mass held at the same place of worship. Afterwards, the funeral cortege proceeded to "Nicolae Sulac" National Palace, a symbolic institution where the Master delighted audiences countless times.

Between 10:00 and 13:00, the coffin was laid out inside the National Palace so that all those who loved him could pay their last respects. The ceremony included a moment of tribute at 10:00, followed by a mourning rally at 12:00, where public figures and colleagues from the artistic community evoked the complex personality of Gheorghe Urschi. The farewell procession ended at 12:50, at which time the cortege headed toward the Central Cemetery on Armenească Street.

The burial will take place at 14:00, with the Master to find his final resting place alongside other great personalities of the nation. As a sign of deep respect, state flags throughout the country are flown at half-mast, and citizens and public institutions are urged to observe moments of silence in memory of Gheorghe Urschi, who knew better than anyone how to transform suffering into smiles and wisdom.

Actor, director, humorist and writer Gheorghe Urschi, People’s Artist, nicknamed the "King of Humor", passed away at the age of 78, on April 13, 2026. The humorist departed this life after spending a month in the intensive care unit of "Timofei Moșneaga" Republican Clinical Hospital, where he had undergone surgery.