The National Union of War Veterans of Moldova condemns the intention of President Igor Dodon to take part in the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the peacekeeping mission on the Nistru and to confer awards on Russian soldiers and separatist service members, describing this as betrayal of the Republic of Moldova. The Union said the visit by war mercenary Dmitry Rogozin to Moldova is illegitimate, IPN reports.

In a news conference at IPN, head of the Chisinau branch of the National Union of War Veterans

Vasile Icubov made public a statement whereby the Union declares the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin, who is the Russian President’s special representative in Transnistria, persona non grata in the Republic of Moldova.

The Union called on war veterans and civil society to come to the Chisinau International Airport on July 28 and prevent Dmitry Rogozin from entering the country.

“One cannot cross Moldova’s borders without visa, but he said he can. We can show this individual that he cannot come to mock at us,” said the Union’s deputy head Alexandru Cimbriciuc, head of the local organization in Soroca.

The veterans consider President Igor Dodon’s intention to award the Russian soldiers and separatist service members is a crime against the soldiers killed in the war for defending Moldova’s independence. “Mister Dodon should not mix up the state awards with protocol presents. He would better award posthumously our comrades killed in battle,” stated Vasile Icubov.

“What does Mister Dodon want to show us the war veterans, civil society? He wants to show that we, the Moldovans, are subdued by minorities so that he could build a political career in the Russian Federation. He will not succeed! We also have ambitions and do not have what to lose with such a President who sells us cheap,” said colonel Ion Potlog.

The statement also said that the National Union of War Veterans of Moldova subscribes to the Parliament’s statement on the pullout of the Russian military forces from Transnistria.

The statement was signed by over 1,600 war veterans.

In an interview for the Russian TV channel Rossia 24, President Igor Dodon said he will take part in the festivities that will be held in Tiraspol to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the start of the peacekeeping operation in Moldova’s Transnistrian region and will confer state awards on Russian peacekeepers in appreciation of their mission in the region. He also said that on July 28 will meet with the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin, who confirmed his visit to Chisinau, according to the Head of State. The next day, President Dodon will have a meeting with the Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselskii.