A group of members of independent Moldova’s first Parliament who signed the Declaration of Independence 25 years ago say they are boycotting the official festivities this year, blaming the ruling elites of 1994-2016 for “radically departing” from the principles of the Declaration and of the Moldovan Constitution.

Former MP Valentin Dolganiuc told a press conference: “We are declaring that on August 27 we cannot stand next to those who set the Declaration of Independence alight, who have jeopardized Moldova’s European future, usurped power, captured and subdued all the state institutions, installed a cabinet overnight, those who have approval ratings below 10%, who stole one billion dollars and made the people pay for it, and who started a genocide against their own people”.

Another Declaration signatory, Vasile Nastase, said that most members of the first parliament are condemning the “show-off” prepared for tomorrow. “The members of the first Parliament, the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, are the first who should rise up against this criminal regime”.

Ilie Bratu, a fellow member of the first Parliament, said he has no reason to rejoice today, twenty five years after he signed the Declaration. “The Republic of Moldova has no future as an independent state”, said Bratu, adding: “this experiment of twenty five years of so-called independence has miserably failed”.

“How can you be proud of being a Moldovan citizen, how can you take pride in this holiday, when this grouping has stolen billions of dollars and driven away hundreds of thousands of people from this country, has captured the country and humiliated all its people?”, said Vasile Zgardan, another Declaration signatory.

The group intends to celebrate Independence separately. They will meet tomorrow at 8:30 at the Alley of Classics in the central park before laying flowers at the statue of Stephen the Great.