On July 6, when the victims of the second wave of Stalinist deportations are commemorated, bells will be rung in all the churches of the country between 10:00am and 10:10am and a service will be held later. A circular to this effect was issued by the Moldovan Metropolitan Church, IPN reports.

July 6 was declared a national mourning day. The national flags in all the localities of Moldova will be flown at half-mast and a moment’s silence will be observed at 10am.

Contacted by IPN, Valentina Sturza, head of the Association of Former Deportees and Political Detainees, said more than 94,700 persons were deported. Of these, 7,680 are yet alive in Moldova. The figure is by 450 lower than last year. There were three mass deportation waves: in June 1941, in July 1949 and in April 1951.