Moldovan President: 7 April remains lesson about how easily fundamental rights can be violated and about importance of defending freedom

President Maia Sandu said today that the events of 7 April 2009 represent a “painful and shameful moment” in the recent history of the Republic of Moldova, emphasizing that the state acted at that time against its own citizens.

“We remember today the shameful moment in our history when the state assaulted its own citizens for the simple demand that their will, expressed through the vote, be respected,” the head of state said.

According to her, the protests were marked by a confrontation between the courage of peaceful demonstrators and the abuses of the authorities, which left behind victims and deep trauma.

“It was a confrontation between the solidarity and courage of the tens of thousands of people who took to the streets peacefully and the abuses that claimed victims, left behind hundreds of humiliated young people, and caused wounds that still hurt,” Maia Sandu underlined.

The president stressed that the absence of a full act of justice continues to affect society.

“This trauma will not be able to heal as long as justice remains indebted for the truth and fairness still awaited by those who dared to hope for a better future,” she noted.

The head of state emphasized that the lessons of those events must remain a point of reference for defending fundamental freedoms and consolidating democracy.

“7 April remains a lesson about how easily fundamental rights can be violated – and about the importance of defending freedom,” Maia Sandu said.

At the same time, the president underlined that the country’s European path reflects the aspirations expressed by the demonstrators.

“Through the steps we have begun in recent years towards the European Union, we are building the democracy that the demonstrators of that time demanded,” she concluded.

Today marks 17 years since the 7 April 2009 riots.