Moment of silence for a writer declared dead but still very much alive

There was an embarrassing moment when  Zinaida Greceanîi, speaker of the Moldavian Parliament, called for a moment of silence for Spiridon Vangheli (pictured), a well-known writer in the Republic of Moldova. The only problem: Mr. Vangheli is alive and well, writes Cristian Gherasim.

"Dear colleagues, I announce with great regret that Spiridon Vangheli is dead. I call on you to hold a moment of silence,” the Parliament speaker said.             

Subsequently, another MP requested that the information be verified, and the Ministry of Health announced that the writer was alive. The Ministry of Health denied the news of the writer's death, reporting on his good health.

The confusion started from the fact that Vangheli had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and had to be hospitalized.

Spiridon Vangheli declared for local media that he is in a stable condition, being hospitalized with COVID-19 in the local hospital.

The writer has since recovered, testing negative for COVID, but remains in hospital.

The spokesperson of the Republican Clinical Hospital Timofei Moșneaga, where the writer has been hospitalized, reported that the writer is still in the hospital, in a recovery ward. When he will be discharged is unknown, it depends on his pace of recovery. At the request of relatives, the spokeswoman said she could not provide further details.

Spiridon Vangheli is 88 years old. He is best known for his children's prose, which has been translated into many world language.

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