Parliament condemns totalitarian Communism, its symbols

Following tedious and heated debates, the Moldovan Parliament today voted on two motions by the Liberal Party to condemn the totalitarian Communist regime in the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Communist symbols, Info-Prim Neo reports. The measure, passed by the vote of the parliamentary majority, forbids the use of the totalitarian Communist symbols, in particular the hammer and the sickle, and any support depicting such symbols, for political and propaganda purposes. Liberal leader Mihai Ghimpu stated that rather than condemning those who joined the Communist Party, their motions condemn the crimes committed under the totalitarian Communist regime, such as the famine, the deportations and the killings after WWII. “Everybody suffered under the regime, not just the Moldovans”, said Mihai Ghimpu. Communist MP Anatolie Zagorodnyi noted that the proposal was controversial and would create tensions in society. “What should we do now with the medals of those who fought in WWII? You are unleashing a war among society. People will be terrorized as the police will have to punish those wearing such symbols”. Ghimpu, however, replied that the measure had nothing to do with the medals and other keepsakes, and would only ban the use of Communist symbols for political purposes. Liberal-Democrat Chiril Lucinschi abstained from voting, arguing that a more comprehensive bill was needed that targeted not only Communism but also other totalitarian regimes. The Communists walked out of the assembly hall, and so did Vadim Misin, as the motions were being voted on. The Socialist group didn't endorse the motions either.