CHISINAU – A Jewish cemetery in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, was vandalized earlier this week, with more than 50 gravestones defaced with swastikas and other Nazi symbols, according to Moldovan officials and Jewish community leaders. The incident occurred as tensions rise in the Middle East and amid a documented increase in antisemitic attitudes in Moldova.
Forensic experts and prosecutors sealed off the cemetery on Thursday to investigate the desecration, which authorities described as an act of inciting racial hatred. The Chisinau cemetery, once a central site for the city’s large Jewish population, has been targeted before. In 2020, vandals damaged 42 headstones and painted 30 with similar symbols.
Alexander Bilinkis, president of the Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova, condemned the attack, stating, “Vandalism at the Jewish cemetery is not a new phenomenon, but its increased frequency has caused serious concerns, outrage, and pain. Further inaction will destroy the Jewish cemetery.” He called for immediate protection, a full assessment of the damage, and restoration of the desecrated monuments.
The Moldovan government has pledged to investigate the crime and has previously taken steps to toughen penalties for vandalizing religious sites. Justice Minister Fadei Nagacevschi noted that harsher fines and potential jail terms are being considered to deter such acts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the desecration as a “barbarian act” against the memory of Moldova’s Jews and a provocation against Moldovan society as a whole.
Jewish leaders and international organizations have expressed alarm over the rising frequency of antisemitic incidents in Moldova, especially in the context of heightened tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Recent surveys show that deep-rooted antisemitic attitudes persist in Moldova, with significant portions of the population expressing negative stereotypes about Jews. The European Jewish Association has called for more comprehensive educational and legal reforms to address the problem.
The vandalism comes as Moldova’s small Jewish community, estimated at fewer than 2,000 people, faces renewed threats. Community members and officials have drawn parallels to Moldova’s tragic history, including the 1903 Chisinau pogrom, and are urging authorities to take stronger action to protect Jewish heritage and promote tolerance.
This article is based on verified information from Reuters, the World Jewish Congress, Ynet, the European Jewish Association, and official Moldovan government statements.