Nistru war volunteers on June 19 remembered their comrades who died on the battlefield in Tighina, where the largest number of volunteers were killed. The volunteers reiterated their request to the authorities to draft a law that would represent them and to declare June 19 as the day of remembrance of war volunteers, IPN reports.
Sergiu Caracai, chairman of the Union of War Volunteers of the Republic of Moldova, said that 25 years after the Tighina battle, the citizens who went to war voluntarily continue not to be recognized by the authorities and not to have an official day when they could commemorate their killed comrades-in-arms.
“June 19 is a very tragic day for us and should be an important day for the whole country. On June 19, 1992, there was a real war in Tighina. A lot of volunteers died then. We came to commemorate them and render homage to those who promoted patriotism in the Republic of Moldova,” stated Sergiu Caracai.
Nicolae Salcoci said he then served as deputy commander of the Volunteers Battalion “Haiducii” in Cocieri. “This day is black day for our people. On June 19, 1992, volunteers and service members as well as police officers were killed on the battlefield in Tighina. On this day we commemorate the martyrs of our nation who died there,” stated Nicolae Salcoci.
Mihai Moron, deputy chairman of the Union of War Volunteers, said about 300 volunteers were killed on the battleground in Tighina on June 19, 1992. “This day is of special importance for our people. Regrettably, the leadership of the country forgot about us. They do not take part in the commemoration events and we practically do not exist for them. But during those days we defended the integrity of the Republic of Moldova,” he stated.
According to volunteers, the bloodiest battle was fought in Tighina on June 19. 1992. This involved the police and the newly formed units of the army of the Republic of Moldova, on the one side, and the guard of the Nistrean Moldovan Republic and Russia’s 14th army, on the other side. The battle ended with the intervention of the Russian troops alongside the separatist forces after the combined Moldovan forces earlier occupied the town partially up to the Nistru River.
