The military-protocol ceremony to hand over the power from President Igor Dodon, whose mandate expired, to the new President Maia Sandu took place at the Presidential Place. Igor Dodon met Maia Sandu with flowers in the hall and wished her success in her new job, IPN reports.

In accordance with the law on public symbols, the ex-President was handed over a copy of the standard of the President of the Republic of Moldova, while the original will be kept by the incumbent President.

“The copy of the standard of the President of the Republic of Moldova as the guarantor of the sovereignty, national independence, unity and territorial integrity of the country, supreme commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova, and the personalized presidential insignia are handed over to His Excellency, Mister Igor Dodon, President of the Republic of Moldova, supreme commander of the Armed Forces in 2016-2020,” said the moderator of the ceremony.

After the event, Igor Dodon, as he announced earlier, will fly to Moscow alongside mayor general of Chisinau Ion Ceban and Deputy Parliament Speaker Vlad Batrîncea.