Dozens of friends, colleagues and admirers have said farewell to the late Moldovan humorist and actor Gheorghe Pârlea. He has been applauded for the last time before being buried in the Central Cemetery of Chisinau.

Culture Minister Monica Babuc has said Gheorghe Pârlea’s death is a huge loss for the national culture: "This fills grief the hearts of many lovers of arts and theater. It’s very easy to make comedy, but in the theatrical art this is the most difficult genre. Master Parlea was endowed with this unique gift."

Gheorghe Urschi,  his colleague and good friend, could not attend the burial, but wept at his coffin.

The comedian died on Saturday, aged  72, suffering from diabetes for years.