The authorities in Tiraspol decided to declare 2010 as the Year of Veterans and Defenders to mark a double anniversary – 65th anniversary of the WWII Victory and the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the self-proclaimed republic. The separatist government budgeted roughly $6m for celebrations, Info-Prim Neo's correspondent reports from Tiraspol. Two medals will be issued to commemorate the anniversaries. The medals will be offered to the WWII veterans as well as to the veterans that fought against the legitimate Moldovan authorities in 1990-1992. Elena Bomesco, adviser to the self-styled Transnistrian president Igor Smirnov, said a number of governmental activities would be carried out to honor the veterans, including home repairs, social benefits, compensated utility bills, etc. Also in 2010 the separatist authorities will unveil a memorial in Tiraspol to honor the “defenders of the Transnistrian republic” who died in the Nistru war.