Petru Lucinschi (pronounced [ˈpetru luˈtʃinski]; born 27 January 1940) is a former Moldovan politician who was Moldova's second President from 1997 to 2001. He currently serves as the founder and head of the Lucinschi Foundation of Strategic Studies and International Relations.[1]
Petru Lucinschi | |
|---|---|
 Lucinschi in 2012 | |
| 2nd President of Moldova | |
| In office 15 January 1997 – 7 April 2001 | |
| Prime Minister | Andrei Sangheli Ion Ciubuc Ion Sturza Dumitru Braghiş |
| Preceded by | Mircea Snegur |
| Succeeded by | Vladimir Voronin |
| President of the Moldovan Parliament | |
| In office 4 February 1993 – 9 January 1997 | |
| President | Mircea Snegur |
| Prime Minister | Andrei Sangheli |
| Deputy | Dumitru Moțpan Nicolae Andronic Dumitru Diacov |
| Preceded by | Alexandru Moșanu |
| Succeeded by | Dumitru Moțpan |
| Member of the Moldovan Parliament | |
| In office 17 April 1990 – 9 January 1997 | |
| Succeeded by | Petru Agachi |
| Parliamentary group | Democratic Agrarian Party |
| Constituency | Briceni |
| 1st Moldovan Ambassador to Russia | |
| In office 6 April 1992 – 3 February 1993 | |
| President | Mircea Snegur |
| Prime Minister | Valeriu Muravschi Andrei Sangheli |
| Succeeded by | Anatol Țăranu |
| First Secretary of the Moldavian Communist Party | |
| In office 16 November 1989 – 4 February 1991 | |
| Premier | Ivan Calin Petru Pascari Mircea Druc |
| Preceded by | Semion Grossu |
| Succeeded by | Grigore Eremei |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 January 1940 Rădulenii Vechi, Kingdom of Romania |
| Citizenship |  Moldova Romania |
| Political party | Agrarian Party of Moldova |
| Other political affiliations | Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1964–1991) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Chiril, Sergiu |
| Alma mater | Moldova State University |
| Profession | Politician |
Early life and education
editPetru Lucinschi was born on 27 January 1940 in Rădulenii Vechi village, Soroca County, Kingdom of Romania (now Florești district) into the family of Kirill Vasilievich Lucinschi. Lucinschi carries a transcribed version of the Polish surname Łuczyński, but has never publicly identified with a Polish heritage. In 1962, he graduated from Chisinau State University. During his studies, he was the secretary of the local Komsomol. From 1963 to 1964, he was engaged in Komsomol work in the Soviet Army. He has a PhD in Philosophy (1977) from the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow.
Career in the Communist Party
editIn 1964, he was admitted to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. From 1971, Lucinschi was a member of the Executive Committee (Politburo) of the Central Committee of the Communist Party in Moldavian SSR.[2] He was the only native Moldovan in the leadership of Communist Party of Moldova at that time, when the leadership of Moldavian SSR was almost completely in the hands of people from outside the republic or Transnistrians.[3]
From 1978 to 1989, he was First Secretary of Chișinău City Committee of the Communist Party of Moldova.[4] In 1978, Ivan Bodiul sent him to work for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in Moscow, where Lucinschi remained until 1986. From 1986 to 1989, Lucinschi was second secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Tajikistan. Upon his return to Moldavian SSR in 1989, he became first secretary of the Communist Party of Moldova. His appointment followed the civil unrest on 7 November during the 72nd anniversary celebrations of the Great October Socialist Revolution.[5]
In early 1991, he was appointed Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, so he again left Moldavian SSR for Moscow.
Immediate post-Soviet career (1991–1997)
editIn 1991, he was appointed as Ambassador of Moldova in Russia. On 4 February 1993, he was elected as Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, being re-elected on 29 March 1994 for a new term. He held the position until 1997.
Presidency (1997–2001)
edit
Lucinschi was elected Moldova's second president in November 1996. Upon his assumption to office, many Western media outlets portrayed him as a Moscow man who remained oriented toward the Soviet past. He was often seen as the lesser evil to Vladimir Voronin from the Party of Communists.[6] Under his leadership, the reforms started by his predecessor Mircea Snegur were continued. It also marked the beginning of Moldova's distance from the nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States and closer relations with the European Union. Over his four years in power, the Lucinschi administration was marked by fierce confrontations in Parliament. He served until 2001, when he called a snap election, and the Parliament voted in favour of Vladimir Voronin.[7]
Foreign policy
editRussia and CIS
editDuring his presidency, he advocated for close ties with Russia.[8] He was friendly with Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev, as they had worked together in the Soviet government and had been acquainted as leaders of their republics since 1970, when Lucinschi visited Baku.[9]
Post-presidency
edit
Since leaving office, he has continued to meet with his former counterparts, including Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev,[10] Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev,[11] Estonian president Arnold Rüütel,[12] and Ukrainian president Leonid Kravchuk.[13] Upon the death of former Russian president Boris Yeltsin, he described him as a politician who "paid a lot of attention to the national aspirations of countries of the USSR conglomerate", saying in addition that he "played an essential role for young independent states like Moldova".[14] In 2018, he published his book Pyotr Kirillovich Luchinsky – Member of the Politburo and President, authored by Russian writer Mikhail Lukichev.[15][16] In early 2019, President Igor Dodon invited Lucinschi together with ex-president Mircea Snegur on a tour of the newly renovated Presidential Palace,[17] which was in need for repairs for over a decade. In 2020, Lucinschi, along with 49 fellow members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center based in Baku, called for international action to tackle new waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he personally assisted Ukrainian families in settlling down in Chisinau.[19]
Personal life
editLucinschi was married to Antonina (d. 2006), a retired schoolteacher, and has two sons, Sergiu and Chiril. Chirill is a businessman and politician who was as member of parliament as well as a professional basketball player.
Awards
editDomestic
edit- Order of the Republic (27 January 2005)[20]
- Order of Ștefan cel Mare, II Degree (Metropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova, February 9, 2010)[21]
- Om Emerit (28 January 2015)[22]
Soviet
editForeign
edit- Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (France, 1998)[24]
- Order of Redeemer (Greece, 1999)[24]
- Grand Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre (Greek Orthodox Church, Jerusalem, 2000)[24]
- Medal "Bethlehem 2000" (Palestinian National Authority, 2000)[25]
- Order "Star of Romania" (Romania, 2000)[24]
- Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow" (Russia, 6 September 1997)[26]
- Honorary Citizen of the City of Astana
References
edit- ^ "15 January 1997. Petru Lucinschi's swearing in office of President of Moldova". www.moldpres.md. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ правды», Леонид РЯБКОВ | Сайт «Комсомольской (2020-03-15). "В Кишиневе Петр Лучинский забрал у Нонны Мордюковой номер "люкс" для Людмилы Чурсиной, за которой ухаживал". kp.md - Сайт «Комсомольской правды». Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ Mihail Bruhis - "Rusia, România și Basarabia", Universitas, Chişinău 1992, page 314
- ^ "1976-1978 Lucinschi held the position of First Secretary of Chisinau City Committee of CPM".
- ^ правды», Леонид РЯБКОВ | Сайт «Комсомольской (2017-11-07). "Петр Лучинский: Не припомню, чтобы кто-то отказался идти на демонстрацию 7 ноября потому что ненавидит СССР, наоборот, шли с радостью!". kp.md - Сайт «Комсомольской правды». Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ Monitor, 21 martie 2001, Moldova's President Bows Out
- ^ "Biography of President of the Republic of Moldova Petru Lucinschi, 1996-2001". Retrieved 2017-08-20.
- ^ https://docs.rferl.org/Infographics/2016/2016_01/2016_01_Russia_and_Me/data/Petru_Lucinschi.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Heydar Aliyev set bar high for what strong leader should be - ex-President of Moldova (PHOTO)". Trend.Az. 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic - NEWS » Receptions". en.president.az. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Head of State Nursultan Nazarbaev met with former President of the Republic of Moldova Petru Lucinschi. — Official site of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan". www.akorda.kz. Archived from the original on 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Former Estonian president sends message on support of Moldova's European aspirations". president.md. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Moldova, Ukraine to be united in continuing European integration". president.md. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Great Deeds, Serious Errors". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Вышла в свет книга, посвященная Петру Лучинскому".
- ^ "Игорь Додон принял участие в презентации книги". president.md. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Игорь Додон провел встречу с двумя экс-президентами Молдовы". president.md. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Over 50 Members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center joined 275 world leaders call for urgent action to avoid 'COVID Generation'". Trend.Az. 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Former Moldovan President Lucinschi believes there are no threats to Moldova, conflict in Ukraine to end in coming days". interfax.com. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "Указ Президента Молдавии о награждении Петра Лучинского орденом Республики". Archived from the original on 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Митрополит Владимир наградил первых двух президентов Молдовы". Archived from the original on 2018-01-10. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ Указ Президента Республики Молдова от 28 января 2015 года № 1443 «О присвоении господину Петру Лучински почётного звания «Om Emerit»
- ^ a b Лучинский, Пётр Кириллович
- ^ a b c d "Mr. Lucinschi is the holder of several prestigious awards: Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (France, 1998), Order of Redeemer (Greece, 1999), Grand Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre (Greek Orthodox Church, Jerusalem, 2000), Order "Steaua Romaniei" (Star of Romania), the Sash rank (Romania, 2000)".
- ^ Medal of Bethlehem, 2000
- ^ "Вечерний Минск от 9 сентября 1997 года". Archived from the original on 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2018-08-29.