site.btaBulgaria's Independence Day Celebrated in Moldova

The Bulgarian community in Moldova gathered in Chisinau to celebrate the 116th anniversary of Bulgaria's independence. At the event, which took place in front of the Shipka Obelisk at the Bulgarian Memorial Complex, dozens of Bulgarians came to celebrate Bulgarian culture and history. The Bulgarian embassy in Chisinau organized a ceremony of laying wreaths and flowers in front of the monument in memory of the heroes who died for the freedom, unification and independence of Bulgaria.

The celebration began with a short musical and artistic program prepared by the graduates of the Vasil Levski Bulgarian Theoretical Lyceum. The children, under the guidance of their music teacher, a seconded specialist from Bulgaria, performed Bulgarian patriotic songs and recited poems.

The ceremony continued with a solemn speech by Bulgarian Ambassador to Moldova Maya Dobreva, who stressed the importance of independence and shared values ​​between the two countries. She also noted the contribution to Bulgarian independence of then-Prime Minister Alexander Malinov, a Bessarabian Bulgarian and one of its most prominent statesmen after Liberation.

Taraclia District President Lazar Dermenzhi expressed his admiration for the feat of the people, "thanks to whom we live in modern Bulgaria". He noted the importance of being worthy successors and preserving freedom and independence.

President of the Scientific Society of Bulgarians in Moldova Ivan Duminika said that the Bulgarian people fought for their freedom and unification, and that the supreme act in this process was the declaration of independence on September 22, 1908. He noted that Bessarabia and the Bessarabian Bulgarians contributed to all stages of this process, and in April 1877, three volunteer groups set out from Chisinau to participate in the liberation of Bulgaria.

Director of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute Tanya Mihaylova stressed the importance of the Bessarabian Bulgarian Alexander Malinov for the new generation of diplomats. 

Mihaylova added that Bulgarian diplomacy continues to work actively for the country and highlighted Bulgaria's membership in the EU as a key date: "Our membership in the EU is one of those dates that make Bulgarians feel not only that they are back on the world stage, but part of the European family."
The event ended with a moment of silence and the laying of flowers and wreaths.