History of The Flag of Moldova
The flag of Moldova was adopted on November 6, 1990, shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, of which Moldova was a part. The design was influenced by the national flag of Romania, reflecting the shared cultural and historical heritage of the two countries, as the majority of Moldova's population is ethnically Romanian. The inclusion of the coat of arms in the center distinguishes it from the Romanian flag and symbolizes Moldovan sovereignty and national identity. The flag replaced the Soviet-era flag used by the Moldavian SSR, which was a red banner with blue and white horizontal stripes at the bottom, featuring the hammer and sickle emblem. Since gaining independence on August 27, 1991, the flag has been a symbol of Moldova's sovereignty, European aspirations, and cultural heritage.