It has been a tradition since 2001 for the leadership of the Moldovan Interior Ministry to continue keeping the Day of the Soviet police, more commonly known as militsya, on November 10. Slightly disguised, the holiday is today called “The Day of Veteran Interior Officers”. It is celebrated by most of the former militsya officers, including by the head of state and the Interior Minister, Gheorghe Papuc. On this occasion, Papuc extended “warm congratulations and best wishes on the Day of Veteran Interior Officers, November 10” to all former militsya officers. The congratulation message says “bearing in mind your professionalism, morality and devotement to the chosen profession, your contribution to bringing up the young generation of interior officers … can hardly be overestimated”. Since 2001, the Soviet Militsya Day has been celebrated with much pomp at the National Palace under the aegis of the former Soviet-era general of police and the incumbent president, Vladimir Voronin. Last year was an exception, when 120 veterans celebrated it at the headquarters of the Ministry. 18 years ago, on 10 November 1989, when the Interior Ministry was headed by Gen. Vladimir Voronin, the Ministry building was picketed by tens of thousands of persons who protested against the persecutions by the Soviet police during the National Revival movement. The National Police Day, designated in 1991 to be celebrated on December 18, has been greatly neglected by the current government officials.