Moldova Honors Victims of Stalinist Deportations
President Maia Sandu has paid tribute to the victims of Stalinist deportations, marking 84 years since the first wave on June 12–13, 1941, when thousands of Bessarabians were forcibly taken from their homes and deported to Siberia and Kazakhstan, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES
“On that night, armed soldiers entered thousands of homes. Entire families—grandparents, parents, and children—were torn from their lives and exiled,” Sandu said in a public message. “The Soviets shattered destinies and condemned the innocent to death.”
She stressed the importance of preserving this painful chapter in collective memory and ensuring that such tragedies are never repeated.
Coinciding with the commemoration, around 20,000 deportation files were transferred to Moldova’s National Archives. This move aims to centralize records of Soviet repression and make them accessible to descendants.
“From next July, families can search for their roots and restore the identities of those lost to dictatorship,” Sandu stated, calling it a reaffirmation of Moldova’s commitment to truth and historical justice.
