news agency Infotag

TRANSNISTRIA VETERANS CALLING TO MERGER

A group of participants in the 1992 Transnistrian armed conflict have called upon the veterans of all wars living in Moldova to get united into one strong organization.     

Transnistria veteran Haralambie Stambol stated at a news conference in Infotag today that the new organization should unite all veterans of the Transnistrian armed conflict, of the Second World War, Afghan war, “for this is only how we will be able to defend our rights”.    

He voiced conviction that human rights in Moldova are violated systematically and everywhere, in particular veterans’ rights, and – paradoxically enough – these rights are violated particularly strongly at Moldovan courts.  

Stambol referred to the sad example of his comrade in arms Grigore Badascu, an invalid from the Telita village (Anenii Noi raion) who suffered particularly from the corrupt local authorities and law enforcement – he was deprived of his land title and agricultural machines, which he was supposed to own in the framework of the Pămînt [Land] Program.  

Badascu stated at the news conference that many Transnistria conflict veterans eke out miserable existence, receiving microscopic pensions, and continuing to live without their due military awards. According to him, quite many people possess veterans’ tickets illicitly, for they have never had any relation to any armed conflict or war, but enjoy social and other privileges like real vets.    

Another 1992 conflict participant, Zaharia Sclifos, demanded to undertake an inventory of veterans’ tickets and replace them with new ones to ensure a normal accounting.  

“There were 20 to 25 thousand persons who took part in the military actions. But recently I came across an official list of Transnistria conflict participants, and was shocked to discover 64 thousand names in it. Had we been really that many, we would win a victory even with stones in hands”, said Sclifos.         

He also maintained that many Transnistria conflict veterans deserve having high state awards, but would not be given them until now. He suggested issuing a special badge of a veteran of the 1992 armed conflict in Transnistria.   

In the MoJ state register of non-commercial organizations, there are 62 associations uniting various war veterans.