The Moldovan government has decided to change the airport code of Chisinau to distance itself from the Soviet legacy and reduce dependence on the Russian language.
Andrei Spinu, the Minister of Infrastructure, announced that starting from January 18, 2024, Chisinau Airport will use the abbreviation RMO, representing the Republic of Moldova, instead of the Soviet-era designation KIV, as reported by Radio Free Europe.
Spinu mentioned that the change in abbreviation has been a lengthy process, lasting almost a year. The primary goal is to eliminate the Russian name KIV and rid the airport of the legacy associated with the term “Kishinev.”
Attempts to find alternative abbreviations reflecting the post-Soviet name of the capital faced difficulties, as many were already in use on the internet.
Romanian is the sole official language in the country, located between Ukraine and Romania – a member of the European Union. However, the Russian language is still widely used.
