The protests of April 2009 were triggered by the Communist Party’s claim to have won a third consecutive term in power, following an aggressive election campaign with widespread abuses. The then Communist government cracked down on protesters, leaving at least one person dead, while numerous allegations of widespread torture further traumatized and divided Moldovan society.
2009年的那场示威爆发的原因，是经过一场舞弊丛生的争议性选举之后，执政的摩尔多瓦共产党政府宣布自己第三次赢得了政权。在示威行动开始之后，共产党政府开始镇压示威者并导致至少一名示威者身亡，随后大规模出现的虐待指控又进一步破坏和分裂了摩尔多瓦社会。许多欧洲和摩尔多瓦人都因此相信，在欧洲周边地区，又要出现另一个专制国家了。