Moldovan president's message at rally on commemoration of 76th anniversary of second deportation operation from July 5-6, 1949

We have gathered today to commemorate one of the most painful tragedies of our people. On the night of July 5 to 6, 1949, tens of thousands of people were taken from their homes and deported to Siberia.

Trustworthy people, who lived their lives with honest work and faith, who spoke their language and proudly preserved traditions. People whose uprightness was considered a threat by the Soviet power. In inhumane conditions – hunger, cold, forced labor – our people had to survive far from home. And yet, even in exile, they preserved their identity and values – and raised and educated children in the spirit of these values. Many of these children learned Romanian in whispers. They learned what roots mean, even far from them. They learned what freedom is, living without it. And they carefully carried forward what their parents and grandparents were not allowed to say out loud.

The spirit of these people was never defeated. And the fate of each victim is a lesson in humanity and dignity. The deported never asked for revenge. But they asked for truth. And it is our duty to offer them this truth – through recognition, through education, through keeping their memory alive.

For decades, these sufferings were hidden, silenced or treated with indifference by those who should have brought them to the society's forefront. Especially as, over seven decades later, we still face attempts to falsify history, to justify or minimize the crimes of the Soviet regime. These attitudes not only insult the memory of those who suffered, but also fuel a dangerous culture of denial – both of past crimes and present ones. Because even today, in Ukraine, we see crimes against innocent people. Other broken destinies, other people torn from their loved ones, other children deported.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This year, an exhibition dedicated to the memory of the deportation victims is open on the Great National Assembly Square. It is a space for reflection and learning, where we can better understand the tragic moments experienced by our people, by our families. I urge you to visit the exhibition. To listen to the testimonies. To see the exhibits. To understand – especially the young – the history beyond figures and statistics. Because in these railway carriages, people suffered. So that the torments they went through were not in vain, we have the duty to ensure that such crimes will never be possible again. And for this, the freedom, dignity and peace of Moldova must be defended every day. By choosing truth over lies. By refusing fear. And by remembering those who suffered.

Thank you.