Prime Minister Maia Sandu has instructed the State Chancellery to prepare a Government decision by which August 23 would be declared the Day of commemoration of the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, IPN reports.

The initiative is in line with 2009 European Parliament Resolution. The Resolution stresses out the importance of preserving the memory of the past and reconfirms its solidarity against all totalitarian regimes, regardless of their ideological nature.

According to Maia Sandu, the Government of Moldova condemns all crimes against humanity and serious human rights violations, recognizes the suffering of all victims of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, and declares that peace and reconciliation, based on the memory of the victims, democracy and respect for human rights represent the only development model to be followed.

The prime minister called on the population and the media to keep a moment of silence on August 23, at 20.00.

By 2008 Declaration of the European Parliament, the day of August 23 was proclaimed the European Day of Remembrance of the victims of Stalinism and Nazism.