to Vladimir Voronin from the Party of Communists. Under his leadership, the reforms started by his predecessor Mircea Snegur were continued. It also marked the beginning of Moldova's distance from the nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States and closer relations with the European Union. Over his four years in power, the Lucinschi administration was marked by fierce confrontations in Parliament. He served until 2001, when he called a snap election, and the Parliament voted in favour of Vladimir Voronin. Post-presidency Since leaving office, he has continued to meet with his former counterparts, including Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev, Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev, Estonian president Arnold Rüütel, and Ukrainian president Leonid Kravchuk. Upon the death of former Russian president Boris Yeltsin, he described him as a politician who "paid a lot of attention to the national aspirations of countries of the USSR conglomerate", saying in addition that he "played an essential role for young independent states like Moldova". In 2018, he published his book Pyotr Kirillovich Luchinsky - Member of the Politburo and President, authored by Russian writer Mikhail Lukichev. In early 2019, President Igor Dodon invited Lucinschi together with ex-president Mircea Snegur on a tour of the newly renovated Presidential Palace, which was in need for repairs for over a decade. In 2020, Lucinschi, along with 49 fellow members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center based in Baku, called for international action to tackle new waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal life Lucinschi was married to Antonina (d. 2006), a retired schoolteacher, and has two sons, Sergiu and Chiril. Chirill is a businessman and politician who was as member of parliament as well as a professional basketball player. Awards Domestic Order of the Republic (27 January 2005) Order of Ștefan cel Mare, II Degree (Metropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova, February 9, 2010) Om Emerit (28 January 2015) Soviet Order of the Red Banner of Labor (twice) Order of Friendship of Peoples Foreign Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (France, 1998) Order of Redeemer (Greece, 1999) Grand Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre (Greek Orthodox Church, Jerusalem, 2000) Medal "Bethlehem 2000" (Palestinian National Authority, 2000) Order "Star of Romania" (Romania, 2000) Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow" (Russia, 6 September 1997) Honorary Citizen of the City of Astana References 1940 births Living people People from Florești District Communist Party of the Soviet Union members