The public association Chernobyl Union of Moldova, which on May 19 marks the 30th anniversary of its founding, in the period managed to contribute to defending the rights of the persons who were affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, to organizing medical and social assistance for these persons, the Association’s chairman Tudor Căpățină stated in a news conference at IPN.

According to Tudor Căpățină, the Chernobyl Union of Moldova is a member of the International Chernobyl Union. Since it was founded, the Union has managed to attract the authorities’ attention to the need to ensure medical assistance and social protection and to improve the living conditions of the participants in the Chernobyl cleanup. Cooperating with the Government and Parliament, they drafted a Government decision on preferential loans for the construction or purchase of an apartment building. There were built two houses for persons who acquired a disability as a result of the Chernobyl cleanup. But one of these houses cannot be made available for occupancy as the pandemic prevents the execution of particular technical works.

With the assistance of the Union, there were adopted at least 15 organic laws and about 30 Government decisions in addition to the basic law on the protection of people affected by the Chernobyl disaster so that this law could be put into practice.

According to Tudor Căpățină, the small pensions are a problem for the affected persons. Earlier, they agreed with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection that the pensions should be increased two times. But when the bill was to be submitted to Parliament, the lack of funds was invoked and this wasn’t submitted.

Tudor Căpățină noted he would like a monument to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster to be erected in Chisinau. A place for the monument, in the Park “Valea Trandafirilor”, was discussed in 2001 first, but no decision has been made yet.

Ludmila Beșleaga, deputy head of the Chernobyl Union of Moldova, said practically all those who took part in the Chernobyl cleanup have a disability degree and need support.

The public association Chernobyl Union of Moldova has 4,409 members. Of the 3,550 persons who dealt with the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, 2,300 are alive.