With tears in the eyes, Moldovans recall the days of Soviet deportations
Exactly 71 years ago, during the Soviet regime, thousands of people from Moldova were displaced and sent to the cold regions of Siberia or other regions of the USSR. Some historians say that over 30,000 people were deported, although the exact number is unknown.
National and local authorities, politicians and victims of the horridness brought flowers early today at the Central Station in Chisinau to remember the first wave of deportations.
The displaced people say they feel only pain today and what they lived and experienced cannot be expressed in tears.
Alexandra Popova was relocated together with her family when she was nine.
“What happened, has never been forgotten, and the next generations will commemorate these days,” Mrs. Popova said.
In his 80s, Petru Bolganski used to work as a teacher in Sircova village. With tears in his eyes he told Moldovan Premier Vlad Filat that he was arrested, threatened and without any explanation was sent to Siberia. The Prime Minister invited him over in his office to talk about his experience.
Mr. Bolganski told the Premier that he is trying really hard to get some compensation for his stolen belongings during the Communist regime. He stated that he is not pleased by the damage evaluation made by judges.
Vlad Filat said that even though the pain cannot be removed, those who lost their belongings should be administered justice.
Several waves of deportations of Moldova's native population were carried out during the Soviet times. The first one took place just months before the outbreak of World War II, the second in the war’s immediate aftermath while a third one in the mid-1950s.
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