New Social Democrat leader suggests veterans should throw WWII commemorative cross into eternal flame

Victor Shelin, the freshly elected president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), suggests the Moldovan WWII veterans should throw the Commemorative Cross – a medal that will be awarded to veterans by the government on Victory Day – into the eternal flame. According to PSD Secretary Sergiu Coropceanu, Shelin was inspired by the Germans throwing the Nazi flags at the feet of the Soviet soldiers when they were defeated in 1945. Shelin also said today at a round-table themed “The 65th Anniversary of the Great Victory in the structure of Moldova’s state values” that the veterans who fought in the Red Army should not be confounded with those who were on the opposite side. Asked to comment on Shelin’s statements, acting President Mihai Ghimpu said he would refer them to the Prosecutor General’s Office to check whether they fall under the Criminal Code. “That was just a suggestion. Mr Shelin said the veterans could take the medal and do whatever they wanted with it, but it was just a suggestion to throw them into the eternal flame at the Eternity Memorial”, said Sergiu Coropceanu.