The PPPDA MPs condemn the dismissal of Ion Iovchev from the post of acting director of the Romanian-language Theoretical Lyceum “Lucian Blaga” of Tiraspol. They sent a letter to acting Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi, saying they condemn the Ministry of Education’s act as abusive. The PAS members also reacted, wondering if there were orders to dismiss the principal so that the Transnistrian side can be sure that Ion Iovchev will no longer form part of the working group on school issues, IPN reports.

The MPs of the Party “Dignity and Truth Platform” said that analyzing the legal aspects of the individual administrative act issued by Mister of Education Lilia Pogolșa, they established that the order runs counter to the Administrative Code’s provisions concerning the structure of the individual administrative act issued or confirmed in written form. According to them, the order is null and void.

The MPs noted that during over 30 years Ion Iovchev has been the symbol of the struggle for defending the Romanian language in the Transnistrian region. “For over 29 years, he has managed the only Romanian language lyceum in Tiraspol and during all these years managed to maintain and develop the lyceum, to defend and implement the values of the Romanian nation despite the pressure exerted by the separatist authorities at all levels,” they said.

PAS representative Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei said that she spoke with Ion Iovchev over the phone and cannot understand the hurry in which such an order was issued. “Or there were Dodonist orders to dismiss the principal so that the Transnistrian side was sure that Ion Iovchev will no longer form part of the working group on the problems faced by our schools?” asked the ex-minister of education.

The school’s principal on June 22 said that he was phoned by representatives of the Ministry of Education and was informed to collect the dismissal order. Those from the Ministry told the press that Ion Iovchev reached retirement.

Ion Iovchev has lived and worked on the left side of the Nistru since 1975. He had held the post of principal of the Theoretical Lyceum “Lucian Blaga” of Tiraspol for almost 30 years. He was awarded the highest state award of Moldova “Order of the Republic” for remarkable contribution to promoting the Romanian language and scientific truth, Romania’s Order of Faithful Service in the Commander class and the Order of the Star of Romania in the Knight class.