The year 1991 proved to be crucial for the Soviet republics, including for Moldova, and in result of incremental democratic transformations and the collapse of the USSR, the Republic of Moldova became an independent state. The year 1991 was the common starting point of independence for most of Soviet Union republics. After the events of August 1991, most of the world believed that the collapse of the Soviet Union meant a departure from the totalitarian past for the former Soviet territories, but the reality proved to be different for most of the former Soviet republics. However, the transition from a totalitarian to a democratic regime proved to be different for each postSoviet state. If the 1989 year is considered the annus mirabilis or the collapse of a utopia, then the year 1991 is the beginning of the post-Cold War era. This paper highlights the most important events of the year 1991 and their impact on the Moldovan society.