Acting President Mihai Ghimpu issued a decree to confer the Order of the Republic on 50 persons who fought the totalitarian Communist regime, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a communique from the presidential press service. The state awards were given in gratitude to the persons who, being witnesses to the tragic consequences of the Soviet-German nonaggression pact and the secret additional protocol of August 23, 1939, put up resistances to the totalitarian Communist regime after June 28, 1940, endangering their life and freedom, and were sentenced to death or imprisonment for their courage and patriotic spirit. The awardees include known and less known names. Among them are Nicolae Costenko, Vadim Pirogan, Pimen Damascan, Mihail Ursachi, Vasile Batrinac, Alexandru Soltoianu, Alexandru Usatiuc – Bulgar, Pantelimon Halippa, Gheorghe Ghimpu and others. They formed part of the Liberty Party, the National-Patriotic Front, the “Sword of Justice” and other organizations. Most of them were awarded posthumously.