Moldova marks 35 years since declaration of sovereignty
On June 23, 2025, Moldova commemorates the 35th anniversary of its Declaration of Sovereignty, a historic document adopted in 1990 by the then-Parliament (Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR) that marked the beginning of Moldova’s path toward independence from the Soviet Union.
President Maia Sandu has urged citizens to participate in the Sovereignty March on Monday, June 23, emphasizing the significance of this historic moment that set Moldova on the road to independence and national affirmation.
“Thirty-five years ago, on June 23, 1990, Moldova took a historic step: the Parliament in Chișinău adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty. It was the first major victory in the struggle for national rebirth and liberation. Moldovans clearly asserted that only the will of the people should shape the country's destiny. At that time, we chose freedom and the right to determine our own fate,” Maia Sandu said in a public statement.
The head of state highlighted that today, Moldova is moving toward the European Union with the same conviction: “Our future must be one chosen by us—a future of peace, dignity, and prosperity for our children.”
The anniversary event will take place on Sunday at 7:00 PM in front of the monument dedicated to Ion and Doina Aldea-Teodorovici on Alexei Mateevici Street, who are symbols of the National Revival. The president encouraged citizens to come with the tricolor flag, accompanied by their families, “with hearts full of pride,” to honor the courage of those who asserted Moldova’s sovereignty in the face of history.
“Come with the tricolor, with your family, and hearts full of pride at 7:00 PM in front of the Ion and Doina Aldea-Teodorovici monument on Alexei Mateevici Street, as a sign of respect for the past and confidence in the future,” the president urged.
June 23 marks 35 years since the adoption of Moldova’s Declaration of Sovereignty—a crucial moment in the process of breaking away from the Soviet Union and affirming national statehood.
The document was adopted by the Parliament at that time (the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR) in 1990 and established the supremacy of republican laws over union laws, the institution of Moldovan citizenship, the right to establish independent foreign relations, and exclusive control over natural resources. The Declaration also reaffirmed the republic’s commitment to international law and the principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.
Although it did not explicitly proclaim independence from the Soviet Union, the Declaration of Sovereignty was an essential step toward the adoption, one year later on August 27, 1991, of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Moldova.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
