72 years since Russian troops entered Basarabia were marked in various ways in Chisinau. While members of the Union Council and of Civil Platform “Actiunea 2012” organized on Thursday evening a protest in front of the Russian Embassy, condemning the Soviet occupation, across the street members of the Russian Youth League and of the Patriots of Moldova Party came to thank Russia for liberating them from Romanian occupation, reports Info-Prim Neo. President of the War Veteran Association “Tiras-Tighina” Anatol Caraman, co-president of the Union Council, stated that on June 28, 1940, the Soviet occupation took place, and that nothing will manage to put out the flame of Romanian dignity in Moldovan citizens. According to Caraman, sooner or later, Moldova and Romania will re-unite. Vitalia Pavlicenco, president of National Liberal Party, co-president of the Union Council, stated that June 28 is a day of great sorrow for the Romanian people, for 72 years ago, as a result of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact and its secret addendum, the territory between rivers Prut and Nistru, through Basarabia, was annexed to the USSR. Across the street was another manifestation. Those who were present chanted, “Thank you, Russia”. “On June 28 we celebrate Moldova’s liberation from Romania’s monarchy”, said Mihail Garbuz, president of Patriots of Moldova Party. “We came here to thank Russia for ridding Basarabia of Romanian occupants on June 28, 1940”, stated the president of Russian Youth League Igor Tuleantev. According to him, Moldova is a friendly country and its future lies within the Euro-Asian Union. The youth believes that the protest from across the street was organized and paid off by someone. After approximately one hour, members of the Civil Platform “Actiunea 2012” and members of the Union Council marched towards the monument of Stefan cel Mare, where they kneeled in a moment of silence. In order to avoid potential conflicts between the two groups, tens of policemen secured public order during the manifestations. On June 28, 1940, Russian troops entered the territory of Basarabia, as permitted by the Ribbentrop-Molotov Treaty of Non-Aggression, signed between Germany and Russia on August 23, 1939.