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Antisemitism in Moldova
(Period of 2009-2010)
The formation at the international level of a public opinion directed against racial or religious discrimination, antisemitism and aggressive nationalism, reflects a global trend towards the development of tolerance and equality of rights of various ethnic groups that altogether generally reflects the level of civilization of individual states and the international community as a whole.
However, there is still a long way towards the final elimination of all the negative phenomenons and the establishment of a stable inter-ethnic peace; since antisemitism still exists, and depending on the prevailing socio-political situation, it is present in various forms and to varying degrees of intensity.
The situation regarding today’s antisemitism in Moldova reflects this trend.
Today, comparing with other CIS countries, Moldova has the most advanced legislation on the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. In 1997, Republic of Moldova ratified European Convention on Human Rights (formally the Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms).
In 1989, the law on “The usage of languages on the territory of Moldavian SSR” was adopted.
In 2001, in the Republic of Moldova the law on “The rights of persons belonging to the national minorities and the legal status of their organizations” was adopted.
January 1st, 2004, the Concept of National Policy of the Republic of Moldova came into force. This regulation sets forth the unacceptability of discrimination on ethnic grounds, and the Jews themselves proclaimed part of a single nation of Moldova.
Unfortunately, the period from 2009 to 2010 in Moldova can be called the period of lawlessness in terms of protecting minority rights, opposing foment ethnic hatred and aggressive nationalism.
The isolated cases of antisemitic manifestations which occurred earlier in the republic acquire a more social nature during this period, including the unprecedented act of vandalism which took place on the Europe Square in December 2009.
A group of aggressive individuals, members of Russian Orthodoxy, headed by A. Chibrikov, a known organizer of such manifestations, defiled Hanukkah, installed with the permission of the local administration, installing a cross instead. The action was accompanied by obscene shouts and insults directed against Jews, and calls for the release of Moldova from the power of the Jews. This group of people organized a march and walked under the banners and flags of the “Black Hundreds”. Hanukkah was disassembled and thrown at the monument of Stefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great). Law enforcement representatives that were present did not react.
Further action taken by the Moldovan Jewish community in order to punish the perpetrators, did not receive any support from the government or the Mitropolitan Church of Moldova, a passive position which practically justified the illegal actions of extremist groups.
In early 2010, in the capital, a series of antisemitic action took place: near the memorial to victims of the Chisinau ghetto, an inscription appeared: “Do not fool people with Holocaust. Out of the country! “; in February 2010, the Nazi swastika was marked on the fence of the municipal Jewish cemetery and the profanation of six graves took place.
On the night of September 12, 2010 an act of vandalism associated with the desecration of the synagogue in the capital of Moldova took place. A swastika and the inscription “Basarabia – Romanian land” were marked on the façade of the main Jewish cultural building of Moldova.
For each of the facts of antisemitic manifestations, the Jewish community of Moldova has made every possible effort to encourage state authorities and law enforcement representations to actively respond and punish perpetrators and prevent further action, destabilizing inter-ethnic climate in the country.
Unfortunately, the actions and efforts taken were left without adequate response and answers. The prosecution office of Moldova took a passive position; an attitude which creates favorable conditions for such events to reoccur in the future.
The initiatives and actions of the state bodies and authorities are alarming.
In early December 2009, the new Minister of Education L. Bujor “recommended” not to use the history textbooks, which speak about the Romanian occupation of Moldova during 1941-1944 and the Holocaust. On August 22, 2010 L. Bujor told the media that the textbooks on integrated history for the IX-XI classes, issued during the “communist rule” will be removed from schools.
In 2010, the government representatives have taken several initiatives, clearly expressing the position of the State, which goes against the existing laws in the area of national policy.
In July 2010 the General Mayor of Chisinau, Dorin Chirtoaca announced plans to open a museum of “Soviet occupation” and “Holocaust” under the same roof, which later, under the public pressure, was changed to the intention of the opening of two museums in different locations.
The government’s initiative related to the visit of the Romanian writer Paul Goma in the Republic of Moldova can also be considered as scandalous.
Paul Goma is the author of “Red Week June 28 – July 3, 1940” or “Bessarabia and the Jews” an attempt to blame for the Holocaust the Jews themselves, claiming that their mass murder was only a “reaction to the Jews’ support of the Soviet regime and anti-fascist partisan actions during the war.” Despite the apparent anti-Semitic nature of this publication, this book was published in three editions and was available for purchase at the National Public Library in Chisinau.
At the initiative of Jewish Organizations, the Republican Prosecutor Office eventually banned the book for distribution in our country; however, it is still promoted by some of the press.
In August 2010, the initiative of the “Union of the writers of Moldova” to invite Paul Goma in Chisinau became known; as well as the Major’s intention to give to Paul Goma the title of citizen of honor, as a sign of gratitude for his public activity. Moreover, the Academy of Science suggested to name the year of 2011 in his honor.
In October 2010 a new scandal emerged when Codru City Hall, part of Chisinau municipality, sounded the initiative to name one of its street after Marshal Antonescu – an ally of Nazi Germany, known for violent crimes against Jews during World War II in what is now Moldova.
Such an antisemitic wave can be observed for the first time over the past decade. The events caused wide response in both society and media.
These series of events can be viewed as a policy aimed at restricting the rights not only of the Jewish people, but other ethnic minorities living in Moldova also, an alarming fact which is destabilizing inter-ethnic peace in the country.
In this regard, the Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova is coming with the initiative to unify ethnic minorities of Moldova in order to defend and protect their rights and to establish peaceful inter-ethnic relations.
