The Government of the Republic of Moldova has approved the list of winners of the 2025 National Prize. Eleven outstanding professionals will be awarded for remarkable achievements in the fields of art, science, literature, culture, and sports.

Prime Minister Dorin Recean congratulated the laureates and their teams: “The Republic of Moldova has many extraordinary talents, and we must find ways to showcase them,” emphasized the head of government.

The laureates include:

• Radu Rățoi — accordionist, Master of Arts, soloist of the National Chamber Orchestra, for his exceptional contribution to Moldovan musical art and international cultural promotion.
• Varvara Buzilă — PhD in Philology, Head of Ethnography at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History, for her work in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.
• Marcela Vieru (Benea) — poet, author of several poetry volumes, nominated for her literary oeuvre.
• Timofei Bătrânu — visual artist, Master of Arts, People’s Artist, for his lifelong creative work and promotion of national culture.
• Ignat Cazmalî — founder of the Avdarma History Museum, researcher of Stalinist repressions and the 1946–1947 famine, for preserving historical memory.
• Dumitru Erhan and Ștefan Rusu — biologists, awarded for their research on parasitic diseases in domestic and wild animals.
• Mihail Agafița — People’s Artist, chief conductor of the National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, for his artistic impact in symphonic conducting.
• Denis Vieru — International Master of Sports in Judo, bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
• Valeriu Duminică — head coach of the National Olympic Judo Team, for training medal-winning athletes.
• Ion Anton — writer, poet, journalist, author of 33 books, nominated for his literary and journalistic work for children and youth.

A total of 26 applications were reviewed. Winners were selected by secret ballot.
The National Prize includes a diploma, medal, and a financial reward of 100,000 lei.