{Year 2012 in Facts and Figures. Article originally published on December 25} [– 20 January:] IDIS „Viitorul” and OWH TV Studio launch the documentary „Chisinau: European capital”. The film is a premiere attempt to promote the touristic, cultural and investment potential of the capital. [– 2 February:] Cahul become National Youth Capital in 2012. This title offers the youth more possibilities to involve actively in socio-cultural project throughout the year. [– 22-25 February:]] The 21st edition of international exhibition „ExpoVin Moldova 2012” is organized in Chisinau. The event gathers 140 companies from Moldova and from abroad. [– 15 March:] Singer Lara Fabian has a concert in Chisinau. Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Transnistrian leader Evghenii Shevchuk are spotted at the event. [– 26 March:] The 11th edition of UNITEM Awards Gala 2012 takes place. The UNITEM award for lifetime achievements is handed to Mihai Volontir, while the excellence award was shared by composer Eugen Doga and Romanian actor Florin Piersic. The best male leading actor was chosen Constantin Haret of the Russian Drama Theater “A. P. Cehov”, while his colleague Ludmila Colohina won the award for the best female leading role. Constantin Cheianu’s play “This country has forgotten about us”, directed by Alexandru Grecu, was chosen the best play. Overall, 28 awards were handed. [– 27 March:] Writers Ana Blandiana and Romulus Rusan presented at the State University of Moldova a book exhibition about Communist repercussions with the headline “Memory as justice”. [– 29 March:] “Millenium” band celebrates 15 years of activity through a concert at which many orphans were invited. [– 30 March:] Romanian writer, historian and journalist Corneliu Filip released the book „The Transnistrian file. History of a frozen conflict”. The author reviews the way in which the situation in Transnistria developed in recent years and presents documents and memories of the political figures of the 90s. [– 26 April:] The 16th edition of the International Book Salon for Children and Youth is opened. 166 publishing houses from 11 countries participate. About 15000 books are on exhibition. [– 12-19 May:] Europe’s Days are celebrated in Moldova. The events are meant to familiarize the Moldovans to the culture of EU member countries. [– 14 May:] The Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova hosts the exhibition of documents from Romanian archives regarding the ceding of Basarabia to the USSR in 1940 “Ceding Basarabia, northern Bucovina and the Herta land (1940): impotence or irresponsibility”. [– 18 May:] British movie „Playing the Moldovans at tennis” premieres worldwide, based on the homonymous bestseller of renowned English actor and writer Tony Hawks. The story is inspired from the real events during his trip in Moldova. [– 22 May:] Moldova’s representative at Eurovision Pasha Parfeny qualifies in the contest’s final, where he occupied the 11th place of 26 participants. [– 25 May-3 June:] International festival of theatric arts BITEI-2012 takes place in Chisinau. The 10th editions gathered participants from 15 countries. During 10 days, 15 plays were staged in 5 theaters in Chisinau. [– 13 June:] About 620 photos, documents, letters from Siberia, Soviet slogans and flyers, as well as personal stuff of former deportees and political prisoners, were gathered in an exhibition titled “Soviet Moldova between myths and the gulag” at the National Museum of Archaeology and History, marking 71 years since the mass deportations on June 13, 1941. [– 25 August:] On the occasion of national holidays the Independence Day and the Romanian Language Day, two post stamps from the series “Famous people” were issued, alongside several envelopes with the image of Moldovan personalities. [– 27 August:] Authorities organize the several events on the occasion of the Independence Day. [– 30 August:] The concert “Oh, freedom, holy freedom!” takes place. It gathered renowned artists like Eugen Doga, Anastasia Lazariuc, Anatol Dumitras and Iurie Sadovnic, alongside younger ones like Catalin Josan, Valentina Nafornita, Vali Boghean, Radu Dolgan, Cristi Aldea-Teodorovici, Acord band and others. [– 31 August:] Publishing houses from 18 countries participate in the 21st edition of the Book Salon in Chisinau, dedicated to the 180th anniversary of the National Library of Moldova. About 5000 books were on the shelves for readers. This edition was also dedicated to the Year of Ion and Doina Aldea Teodorovici. [– 7-15 September:] The 20th edition of International Opera and Ballet Festival “Maria Biesu” gathers renowned soloist from 7 countries. [– 12 September:] The OSCE Mission in Moldova presents an exhibition about human trafficking. The photos were taken by children from orphanages or youth who grew up there. [– 18 September:] The anthology „The Constitution of the Republic of Moldova: A Commentary” is published with the help of German Foundation “Hanns Seidel”. The book provides an exhaustive commentary of constitutional provisions based on the general theory of law and on the national and international constitutional doctrine. [– 20 September:] More than 30 companies participate in the 2nd edition of the Book Fair at Exhibition Center Moldexpo. Visitors could admire books from 19th century and interactive tablets designed for kids. [– 20 September:] Photos of archaeological sites between the Prut and the Nistru made from space were exhibited at the National Museum of Archaeology and History. Museum director Eugen Sava said that this exhibition was the first of its kind in Moldova and unique in the field of archaeological research. [– 12 October:] Half a century of work by Moldovan archaeologists was depicted in photos exhibited at the National Library. The exhibition “Chisinau Municipality’s historical-archaeological heritage” showed the most representative archaeological findings from the Stone Age until the modern times. [– 14 October:] Carpets woven in 2011 were presented in an exhibition organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute “Mihai Eminescu” in Chisinau. The carpets were woven within the project “Basarabian carpets- world heritage”, initiated and funded by ICR Chisinau. [– 23 October:] The emotions of Moldovan athletes who participated in this summer’s Olympic Games were presented in the exhibition “London 2012: Olympic emotions”, in the Stephen the Great Square. Head of the National Olympic Committee Nicolae Juravschi said that this edition of the Olympics was special and successful for Moldova. Two of its 20 representatives won medals and 7 finished in the top 10 in their competitions. [– 2 November:] The second edition of the book “Romanians, Basarabia and Transnistria”, written by sociologist and journalist Ioan Popa and his daughter Luiza Popa, is launched in Chisinau. [– 6 November:] The life of Moldovans under the Soviet regime was presented at an exhibition of documents and photos gathered by former minister Valeriu Pasat, correspondent member of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. [– 15 November:] General Ion Costas launches the Romanian language edition of the book “Transnistria 1989-1992, the chronicle of an undeclared war”. [– 1 December:] A series of events in Chisinau and Cahul are dedicated to the National Day of Romania. A tricolor of 1000 sq. meters is unfolded in the Great National Assembly Square. [– 1 December:] The winter holidays season is kicked off with the lighting of the Christmas tree in the center of the capital. Decorative lights throughout the city on 22 streets and avenues are switched on. Romanian band Vunk has a concert in the Great National Assembly Square. [– 19 December:] “Satiricus” Theater announces its awards. The “Ion Luca Caragiale” Award and Medal are offered to actor Mihai Curagau, a people’s artist. Honorary medal “Nicolae Costin” is offered to Prime Minister Vlad Filat, while the award for consistency and dignity in promoting democratic values was handed to Nicolae Timofti. [Mariana Galben, Info-Prim Neo]