Speaker about 7 April 2009 events: Memory of this day must unite us, because future of this country depends on choices we make

Speaker Igor Grosu said today that the events of 7 April 2009 remain an important landmark for society in the Republic of Moldova, emphasizing that the memory of those days must unite citizens around democratic values.

"Today marks 17 years since 7 April 2009 – the day when an entire generation had the courage to say no to fear and yes to freedom. Those young people took to the streets to defend their right to live in a free country, where the vote matters and the state respects its citizens," the speaker said.

The official noted that, 17 years after those protests, many questions remain unanswered and justice has not been fully served.

"After 17 years, we still do not have all the answers, and justice has not been done to the end. That mafia octopus, which had captured the state, took advantage of that moment to consolidate its power and derail the country’s European path. It took years to begin dismantling this system," he declared.

According to the Speaker, the 7 April events represented a turning point for the Republic of Moldova.

"It was precisely the day of April 7 that gave the signal for change. Thanks to that moment, today we can speak freely, we can choose, and we can decide the direction in which the country is heading," Grosu said.

In conclusion, the speaker stressed the importance of uniting society around the lessons of the past.

"The memory of 7 April must unite us, because the future of this country depends on the choices we make every day," Grosu concluded.

The protests of 7 April 2009 broke out after the Central Electoral Commission announced the victory of the Communist Party in the parliamentary elections. Young people, mobilized via social networks, took to the streets accusing electoral fraud and demanding a new vote. On April 7, more than 8,000 protesters gathered in the center of Chișinău. Initially peaceful, the protest quickly degenerated into violence. The buildings of the Presidency and Parliament were devastated, looted, and set on fire. The circumstances behind the escalation of violence remain unclear.