Moldovan parliament speaker pays tribute to Ilie Ilascu

Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu has paid tribute to Ilie Ilascu, who is laid to rest today. The official said that, in the collective memory, Ilie Ilascu remained "a symbol of the fight for the sovereignty and integrity of our country."

The speaker emphasized that Ilie Ilascu had had a difficult and unjust fate.

"We have said our goodbyes to Ilie Ilascu, who will remain in the collective memory as a symbol of the fight for the sovereignty and integrity of our country. He had a difficult and unjust fate. We owe it to ourselves to learn from the lesson his courage taught us. May God rest him in peace," said Igor Grosu.

Ilie Ilascu was born on July 30, 1952, in the village of Taxobeni, Falesti district. As early as 1988, he became one of the founders of the National Liberation Movement in Bessarabia. In 1992, Ilie Ilascu was abusively arrested in the Transnistrian region by individuals from the 14th Army of the former USSR. He was sentenced to death and held in detention for nine years, becoming a symbol of resistance and courage in the face of political repression. Due to immense international pressure and the diplomatic efforts of Romania, he was released on May 5, 2001.

Ilie Ilascu is laid to rest on November 20. He is buried at the Bellu Cemetery of Bucharest. November 20 is declared a National Day of Mourning in Moldova. The State Flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the country, as well as at the diplomatic and consular missions of Moldova abroad.