Today it has been 30 years of the start of the Nistru armed conflict. Contacted by IPN for a comment, 80-years-old Alexandru Ganenco, retired colonel, a member of the Association of Independence War Veterans of the Security and Intelligence Service of the Republic of Moldova, remembers how in 1992 he fought in an armed conflict induced by the separatists and by Moscow, who tried to cause a war at any cost, to declare a civil war for the 14th army to stay on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
A large part of the operations were conducted at night. One of them was staged right before Easter. “Two teams of combatants led by Dumitru Naconechnyi and Anatol Beșliu launched a raid behind the separatists in Doroțcaia. They walked 38 kilometers and determined what heavy weapons the separatists had, if they had artillery shells and Alazan warheads and what positions they occupied in the area between Grigoriopol and Dubăsari. During the battles, Cossacks and mercenaries from Saratov and Rostov were taken hostage. Among them were many persons convicted to imprisonment. They sincerely said: “They sent me here to fight and will then pardon me,” related the former head of the detachment of combatants.
The veteran said the 1992 Nistru war was useless bloodshed and the history can yet repeat. “We defended ourselves. We continue to defend our land and the danger is big. If Ukraine surrenders, Moldova can be the next target,” stated Alexandru Ganenco.
As to the current situation of the combatants who fought in 1992 to defend the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, Alexandru Ganenco said these lead a hard life. The veterans need benefits, free medicines or medicines at reduced prices, monthly allowances of up to 3,000-4,000 lei. “The veterans wait for particular support from the state: political, social, psychological. About 70% of the Nistru war veterans are persons older than 60 and are unable to work, while the old-age pension does not cover the enormous treatment, rehabilitation costs and other needs. Now the war veterans benefit from a monthly allowance of about 750 lei, which does not cover the minimum subsistence level”.
Alexandru Ganenco wants the law to protect the persons who defended the homeland, to offer them benefits. “We do not benefit from medical assistance and from sanatorium tickets for rehabilitation. We do not have a shelter for these persons. We realize that the state budget is modest, but there are not many defenders of the homeland and the allowances for them do not necessitate large costs,” stated the veteran.
Law No. 190 of 2003 concerning veterans is outdated and does not reflect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova. “The real war veterans are those who fought to defend the homeland on the Nistru. The others, who were missionaries, are combatants not war veterans. Only those who defended the homeland deserve the title of war veteran. There is a problem with veteran associations too. There are veterans who fought against the Republic of Moldova, but they consider themselves war veterans. That’s why I think the law on veterans should be reviewed,” said Alexandru Ganenco.
Moldova’s Parliament declared March 2, 2022 the Year of Gratitude for the veterans who took part in the war for defending the territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Moldova, in respect for the patriotism of combatants who sacrificed their life and health for freedom, democracy and building of the rule of law in the Republic of Moldova. Almost 300 people were killed in this war, while 370 were hurt and remained disabled.
