Members of the Volunteers’ Union, who defended Moldova’s independence and territorial integrity in 1992, have requested official recognition as war volunteers from state authorities. About 300 delegates at the 11th Congress of the Union signed an open letter to the Moldovan Parliament and Presidential Office. If it is rejected, the former volunteers are ready to go to court. Sergiu Caracai, president of the Volunteers’ Union, told Info-Prim Neo that more than 200 requests had been submitted to the government over the last 20 years. The veterans demanded a bill regarding volunteer service, which would offer concessions to war volunteers. “We have been used and then thrown away. They don’t even want to recognize us. Nevertheless, we are determined to obtain official recognition. Our situation is very difficult. Most of us have been unemployed since 1992. Pensions? Health insurance? The people need money for treatment. Many are bed-ridden. Last year, 12 former comrades died in a single village. After the war, nobody even remembers us”, said Sergiu Caracai. The Union demands concessions in public transport, healthcare in districts and the capital city, free health insurance, jobs, dwellings and war pensions. According to organization’s president, a volunteer with a first-disability degree has a pension of only 800 lei, while an ordinary policeman has a pension of minimum 3,000 lei. Sergiu Caracai warns that if their requests are not granted by national courts, they are ready to go to the European Court of Human Rights and will demand damages for each volunteer. The Volunteers’ Union of Moldova is a public organization with over 29,000 members, according to its leader.