Politics

17 September, 2026 / 17:18

/ 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

European Commissioner reconfirms EU support for advancing reforms in European integration process

European Commissioner holds talks with Prime Minister

MOLDPRES INTERVIEW // Moldovan deputy PM for reintegration: “Reintegration cannot happen through a single decision. Citizens must feel that moving closer to the right bank brings them benefits”

Moldovan President, European Commissioner for Equality approach progress in implementing reforms

European Commissioner on first visit to Chișinău: Moldova - important partner in strengthening Europe’s resilience

Adrian Băluțel appointed co-chair of Moldova–EU Parliamentary Association Committee

How future Constitutional Court judges will be selected. Parliament changes rules

Speaker: Elections in Gagauzia must be fair

Moldovan lawmakers held minute of silence in memory of victims of 11 September 2001 attacks

Moldovan Speaker to visit Budapest to persuade Hungarian authorities to support opening of EU negotiation clusters

Speaker on Local Public Administration Reform: Moldova’s new administrative map to have fewer than 10 regions

Deputy Prime Minister in Sofia: Bulgaria - reliable partner of Moldova and supporter of European path

Speaker on PAS participation in Gagauzia elections: For now, we have no decision

Speaker on Russia’s attack on Starokazacie, near Moldova’s border: It was deliberate. Civilian location was attacked

Adopted by Moldova's parliament: criminal liability may also be transferred after reorganization of legal entity

Moldovan parliament adopts rectification of 2026 state social insurances' budget

Moldova becomes part of automated data exchange system with EU member states, facilitating identification of wanted persons, searched property

Moldova to be able to exchange DNA analyses' results with other states, to detect serious crimes

Ethnicities' Festival marks 25th edition: 24 ethnic groups to showcase traditions in Chisinau

EBRD lends €344 million to upgrade Moldova’s strategic road corridors

Giant grapevine to be set up in PMAN for National Wine Day

Palanca border crossing point temporarily suspended due to communication network failure

Family members of Moldovan and Danish diplomats to gain access to paid work under new agreement

VIDEO // This year’s National Wine Day to bring together more than 110 producers in central Chișinău

DOC // Law on crypto-asset market published in Official Journal and enters into force

Unidentified drone briefly crossed airspace of Moldova

Brussels sends important message to countries moving forward with reforms

Moldova condemned repeated violations of airspace to OSCE

Moldova prepares to implement European Child Guarantee

Moldovan parliament speaker in Budapest: ''This is a good time to open a new chapter in the relations between our parliaments and countries''

See more