Politics

12 November, 2026 / 19:14

/ 19 April, 2025

Moldovan head of state delivers message on Famine of 1946 – 1947

President Maia Sandu has conveyed a message in the context of commemorating the victims of the famine caused by the Soviet regime in 1946 – 1947.

"Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents had even their last grain of wheat taken from their attics, leaving them to die of hunger. This was a deliberate gesture, a barbaric way of subjugating the population," the head of state said.

The Moldovan president noted that, for decades, this tragedy had been passed over in silence. But collective memory cannot be erased and the truth must be told, Maia Sandu stressed.

"We cannot build a just future without acknowledging the injustices of the past and without keeping alive the memory of the hundreds of thousands of people killed by this crime. Hunger did not ask what language its victims spoke or what blood they carried," said the head of state.

The president emphasized that the country’s duty, as a united society, was to defend the truth, stand on the side of good and build the future with dignity, in peace, in a Moldova where such horrors will never again be possible.

According to the National Archives Agency, the famine of 1946-1947 was one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes which hit the current territory of the Republic of Moldova in the 20th century. It was not an unavoidable natural disaster, but a tragedy exacerbated by the authoritarian and repressive policies of the Soviet regime. According to data provided by the National Archives Agency, in just a few months, more than123,000 people died of hunger, accounting for about 5 per cent of the population of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic. Proportionally, Soviet Moldova was the worst hit region in the entire Soviet Union, with a death rate ten times higher than in Russia and five times higher than in Ukraine.

Comment

Latest News

Moldovan justice minister, at annual conference on EU enlargement, says government reaffirms commitment to continuing justice reforms

VIDEO // U.S. Ambassador: New embassy and power line demonstrate Washington’s commitment to Moldova

President at annual EU Enlargement Conference: Moldova aims to conclude EU accession negotiations by 2028

EU enlargement conference begins today in Chișinău

Moldovan foreign affairs minister meets Romanian counterpart

Moldovan Central Electoral Commission accredits 32 international observers to monitor elections in Gagauzia autonomy

Moldovan Central Electoral Commission confirms legality, results of local referendum in central Moldova village

Moldovan foreign affairs minister says Moldova set to open negotiations for final two clusters, counts on support of EU member states

EU Commissioner for Enlargement to visit Moldova

Over 450,000 citizens of Moldova affected by cyberattack; Moldovan president says Electronic Governance Agency to notify concerned citizens by email, banks to be informed

Working group led by Moldovan PM to propose solutions for strengthening cybersecurity

Moldovan president comments on ban imposed on unrecognized Transnistria's leader

Moldovan head of state says many of those who signed draft on president's suspension do Moscow’s bidding

LIVE // Government to create working group to strengthen cybersecurity

Deputy Prime Minister held courtesy meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Moldova

Environment Minister urges people to join this autumn’s reforestation program

Fragments of aircraft found in vineyard in Ștefan Vodă

DOC // Government approves ratification of Moldova-Ukraine Agreement on military-technical cooperation

Electricity from European and Romanian markets reaching Chisinau Electricity Center via Vulcănești–Chisinau Power Line for more than 48 hours

Prime Minister to young interns: I don’t believe there is job where you can have greater impact than working in public service

Diesel price falls below 35-lei threshold in Moldova

PHOTO GALLERY // Decisions, discussions, and behind-the-scenes moments from 12 November Government meeting

VIDEO // Some proposals in draft law on special pensions to be amended

PHOTO // Moldovan wines promoted at ProWine Shanghai international exhibition in China

Government simplifies access for voluntarily amalgamated localities to infrastructure project funding

Government approves results of second auction for installation of wind power plants with capacity of 170 MW and battery storage, contributing to increased electricity production in Moldova

VIDEO // Prime Minister about public-sector pay reform: New law will bring higher salaries and more order to sector

Government updates Register of state-protected monuments to better safeguard heritage

14 students and pupils with outstanding academic results proposed for President’s Scholarship

Moldova's Foreign Minister meets with Lithuanian parliamentary delegation

See more