Today in history On August 27, 1991 – Moldova declares independence from the USSR.

On August 27, 1991, Moldova formally declared its independence from the Soviet Union, becoming one of the last republics to break away as the USSR unraveled. The declaration was influenced by the growing wave of nationalism sweeping across Eastern Europe and the weakening grip of Moscow after the failed August coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev. 

See also: Today in history On August 25, 1991 – Belarus gains its independence from the Soviet Union.

Moldova’s parliament adopted the Declaration of Independence, which emphasized the nation’s right to self-determination, rejected the Soviet regime, and condemned the 1940 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that had forced Moldova’s annexation into the USSR. The declaration also recognized Romanian as the official language, written in Latin script, strengthening cultural and historical ties with neighboring Romania after decades of enforced Russification.

However, independence came with immediate challenges. Moldova faced deep economic struggles as it shifted from a centrally planned system to a market-based one, and political instability soon followed. The country also dealt with tensions from the Transnistrian region, a narrow strip along the Dniester River with a large Slavic population that opposed closer ties to Romania and sought to remain aligned with Russia.

See also: Today in history On August 25, 1967 – George Lincoln Rockwell, founder of the American Nazi Party, is assassinated by a former member of his group.

This dispute escalated into the Transnistria War of 1992, leaving the region a de facto breakaway state. Despite these struggles, Moldova’s declaration of independence marked a historic moment, laying the foundation for its sovereignty and ongoing quest to balance its identity between Eastern ties and aspirations for European integration.

See also: Today in history On August 24, 2023 – Japan officially begins discharging treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean, sparking international concerns and condemnation.