Along with a few other former Soviet republics, Moldova celebrated the 20th anniversary of its declaration of independence in August. A first ever military parade was rolled out with combat vehicles and festive speeches were held. Breathing new life into rusty Soviet military equipment and kitting out the soldiers for the day put a heavy burden on the budget of the poorest country in Europe, costing, according to a Moldovan media outlet, 9 million lei (ca 560.00 euros). While the Moldovan blogosphere was divided between bittersweet pride and disillusion, Moldova’s leaders were carefully hopeful when addressing the crowds.
Autor/a: Elina Viilup, Research Fellow, CIDOB