Mihai Ghimpu: “Moldova was ordered to take part in Moscow parade, not asked”

Three leaders of the Alliance for European Integration consider that the issue of Acting President Mihai Ghimpu's participation in the May 9 parade in Moscow should be discussed further inside the Alliance, but Mihai Ghimpu refuses categorically to go to the Russian capital. Even if the Russian publication “Golos Rossii” said that Mihai Ghimpu is a supporter of Hitler because he did not accept the invitation of his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev to participate in the May 9 parade in Moscow, the Moldovan Caretaker President declares that by his refusal he does not offend the Russian people and the representatives of other countries that will attend the parade. Mihai Ghimpu made related statements during Pro TV Chisinau's program “In Depth” on Monday evening, Info-Prim Neo reports. “I want Moldova to have good relations with Russia, but the Moscow officials should understand that the situation in our country is delicate. We have veterans who fought as part of the Romania army and the Soviet army. But our participation in the parade in the Red Square was an order not a proposal,” Mihai Ghimpu said. “A head of state must be a model for his people. I prefer to die myself than allowing others to die as a result of my policy.” Mihai Ghimpu also said that the recent dissensions inside the Alliance were sparked by the early elections that might be announced after June 16. “If no elections were to be held, everyone in the Alliance would stay calm. But now they try to assert themselves,” Ghimpu said. Last weekend, the Alliance decided to send 70 Moldovan military men to the Moscow parade on May 9, when it will be 65 years of the victory over fascism. Initially, Mihai Ghimpu said he will take part in the parade, refusing to accept sending Moldovan soldiers to Moscow. But later, when the Alliance announced its decision to send solders there, Ghimpu said he will not go to Moscow.