The Romanian Orthodox Church plans to build a cathedral and a Romanian cultural center in the city of Balti, which is considered the most Russian city in Moldova.
This was reported by the Balti independent portal, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
A plot of more than 7 thousand square meters. m of development land was acquired with the financial support of the Romanian government. Construction work has already begun there.
The Balti diocese of the Bessarabia Metropolis of the Romanian Orthodox Church is the successor to the Khotyn diocese with its seat in Balti, which operated during the period when Bessarabia was part of the Romanian Kingdom (1918-1940). During the Soviet years, the property of the Romanian Church was transferred to the Moldavian Orthodox Church, which is part of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Consul General of Romania in Balti Petrisor Ionel Dumitrescu noted that the opening of a new cultural and religious complex in Balti will allow all Romanians to preserve their language, history and culture for future generations.
Last year, controversial politician Renato Usatii, who positioned himself as a supporter of Russia, was elected mayor of Balti.
However, after his election, unionists (supporters of the unification of Moldova and Romania) became more active in the city. They opposed the installation of a monument to Soviet border guards in Balti. But an initiative is being considered to erect a monument to the Moldovan Russophobic poetess Leonida Lari, who aggressively opposed Transnistria, and at the end of her life became a member of the Romanian parliament.
In the summer, the unionists held their march in Balti, and in November the municipal council, with the votes of Usatii’s “Our Party,” liquidated the Russian school.
During the presidential elections, Usatii first acted as a spoiler for Igor Dodon, and then actively supported the pro-Western candidate Maia Sandu, who eventually became the President of Moldova.