In Pictures: Moldovans Rally in Support of Reunion With Romania

Over 10,000 Moldovans attended the so-called "Great Centennial Assembly"in Chisinau on Sunday, marking 100 years since the union of what was then called Bessarabia with the then kingdom of Romania.

The unification document was signed on March 27, 1918, following the collapse of the Tsarist Empire. The Soviet Union seized Moldova back in World War II.

The crowd shouted slogans such as "Reunification!" and "Take down the borders on the river Prut!" - referring to the river border between Moldova and Romania.

Some of the pro-reunification political parties were present in the square, but the organisers insisted that it was not a political event in support of any party in Moldova.

However, Romania's former President, Traian Basescu, attended and urged the parliaments of Romania and Moldova to vote for the unification of the two countries.

A group of 21 masked young people was arrested carrying backpacks and heading to Great National Assembly Square with gas masks, knives and baseball bats in their backpacks.

The country's Pro-Russian President, Igor Dodon, described the demonstration as a "banal minority protest."

  Photo: Madalin Nescutu   Photo: Madalin Nescutu   Photo: Madalin Nescutu   Photo: Madalin Nescutu   Photo: Madalin Nescutu   Photo: Madalin Nescutu   Photo: Madalin Nescutu   Photo: Madalin Nescutu