Maia Sandu meets with Lilia Neagu and Asea Andruh-Scorpan

President Maia Sandu met today with Lilia Neagu and Asea Andruh-Scorpan – two women who, in 1970, defied the Soviet regime by writing Romanian-language slogans on the walls of Chișinău. The head of state said “their act of courage and dignity must be known and preserved as a lesson in integrity for generations that did not live through those times”.

The president thanked them for the strength of character and dignity they demonstrated.

“I had a warm and emotional meeting with Lilia Neagu and Asea Andruh-Scorpan – the two friends who, in 1970, had the boldness to write Romanian-language slogans on the walls of Chișinău, defying the Soviet regime. I thanked them for the strength of character and dignity they showed,” the president noted.

Maia Sandu emphasized that we need to know and preserve such lessons of integrity, especially for generations that did not live through those times.

“Their story reminds us that history is not written only by major events or by leaders. Many times, it is also shaped by acts of courage by those who choose not to remain silent and to stay true to their convictions,” she concluded.

The actions of the two women are evoked as an example of civic courage and affirmation of national identity during the Soviet period.

On the night of September 30 to October 1, 1970, two teenage girls from Chișinău, Lilia Neagu (19) and Asea Andruh (16), wrote dozens of anti-Soviet messages on major buildings in the city center.

On October 6, 1970, they were arrested. As a minor, Asea was expelled from school and forced to work for one year for the benefit of society. Lilia was sentenced to two years of imprisonment, which she served in the Rusca Penitentiary. In 1990, Lilia Neagu was rehabilitated.