A group of members of the National Liberation Movement received the highest state award – the Order of the Republic - on the Independence Day, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the presidential press service. Under a decree issued by Acting President Mihai Ghimpu, the Order of the Republic was conferred on Petru Buburuz, Nadejdei Branzan, Eugeniei Bulat, Ion Ciuntu, Nicolae Costin (posthumously), Mircea Druc, Lidiei Istrati (Ciobanu) (posthumously), Valeriu Matei, Ion Moraru, Alexandru Mosanu, Vasile Nedelciuc, Constantin Oboroc, Tudor Pantaru, Anatolie Şalaru, Andrei Vartic (posthumously), Ion Vatamanu (posthumously), Boris Vieru, and Petru Soltan. The award was given in gratitude for remarkable contribution to the National Liberation Movement and for special merits in promoting the democratic values and historical truth.