A group of veterans of the Nistru armed conflict issued a statement whereby they express their dissatisfaction with the fact that the National Union of Veterans of the War for the Independence of the Republic of Moldova awarded the mayor of Orhei Ilan Shor, who was convicted by the ordinary court, an Insignia of Honor. The awarding diploma was signed by the Union’s president Mihai Balan, who, as the veterans said, does not represent them.
In a news conference at IPN, colonel Gheorghe Slutu said the veterans struggled for building the rule of law and for ensuring the respect for the basic human rights, the citizens’ prosperity and the comfort to live at home in decent and civilized conditions. “But Shor is a docile tool of Plahotniuc, who is responsible for the theft of the US$ 1 billion, and is the person who is most often mentioned in the Kroll report. The fact that he shares out the stolen public money does not make him deserve awards,” he stated.
The veterans said the gesture made by the Union’s administration reveals the servilism to the government and this is contrary to the decision made by the Union’s National Council on May 22, 2015, by which this stated the intention to support the protesting civic movement. “Regrettably, we convinced ourselves once again that Mihai Balan, who became president by fraud, dispersed the veterans, makes statements and takes irresponsible actions in the name of the veterans, playing the game of Plahotniuc through his political and penal accomplice Ilan Shor,” reads the veterans’ statement.
According to Kiril Moțpan, police colonel and vice president of the Political Party “Platform Dignity and Truth”, the war veterans during the last few years became exchange commodity in the hands of impostors from the government or in the hands of representatives of veterans unions who obtained the posts by fraud. “The rulers managed to corrupt and to disperse those who defended the country with guns in their arms,” he noted.
General Anton Gămurari said those who were tried for crimes should not receive such insignia. “The supporting of Shor shows something is not normal in this country,” he stated.
The head of the Chișinău local organization of the Union Mihai Tomachinski said the veterans were astounded by the decision to award this insignia to Ilan Shor.
The veterans also commented on the planned meeting of President Igor Dodon and the Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselski that is to take place at the State Residence in Condrița on September 6. According to the veterans, such a meeting is a shame.
The group of veterans called on the other veterans to distance themselves from their traitor leaders, to keep their honor and dignity and to return to the values they defended during the hard times.
The National Union of Veterans of the War for the Independence of the Republic of Moldova awarded the Insignia of Honor to Ilan Shor in gratitude for the support provided by this to veterans of the Nistru war and their families.
