Three officers demand that the statement about them should be denied as they are calumnious. The officers noted that they are observers of the international Cossacks public organization based in Ukraine’s Chernomorsk, with the legal office registered in Kiev, and the accusations made against them affected their dignity of service members and patriots of this land.
“We are observers of this organization and it is our personal and liberal right to become members of this international organization in the future, according to this status of veterans and because we have close relatives of Ukrainian origin,” says a statement signed by colonels in reserve Vasile Severin, Andrei Vataman and Mihail Garabovschii.
In a news conference at IPN, Mihail Garabovschii said the statement was issued after Anatolie Caraman several days ago misinformed about his activity and the activity of his mates. According to him, attempts are made to mislead society through misinformation by persons who earlier promoted the ideas of parties or even joined political organizations.
“This Cossacks public organization has all the legal acts under the control of the state on Ukraine’s territory. Consequently, branches were also opened in other states, such as Armenia, France, Germany, Bavaria, the U.S., Australia, the UK, Poland, Romania and other primary organizations were founded on the territory of Ukraine,” stated Mihail Garabovschii.
The officer said that he and his fellows were invited to take part in this Cossacks organization as guests, observers, to exchange experience. “The ranks of “general-harunjăn” were conferred on them inside the international Cossacks public organization of Chernomorsk for participation in common conferences, as public ranks and titles, in accordance with the status of this organization,” noted Mihail Garabovschii.
Vasile Severin said those who made statements could have at least a discussion with them. “We are citizens of the Republic of Moldova and we struggled for this country. I fought for this country in 1990, 1991, when I formed part of the special destination battalion. We were the first to enter the battle. It wasn’t Mister Caraman, who then served as a sector police officer. How could he name me traitor of this country when I risked my health and became a second degree invalid?” stated the colonel in reserve.
The officers also said that they called on the prosecution bodies, the ministries of defense and the interior and the Embassy of Ukraine to subject the statements concerning them to a legal and political appraisal.