The ceremony of laying flowers at the Eternal Flame, the graves and monuments of those who gave their lives defending the Motherland at different times was held on Defender of the Fatherland Day at the Memorial of Glory in the capital.
Having honored the memory of the fallen heroes, Vadim Krasnoselsky addressed with words of congratulations to all those who today stand guard over peace in the Pridnestrovian land: “I want to wish all the defenders of the Fatherland, first of all, peace, so that they hone their skills at training grounds, shooting ranges, and exercises. Peace, prosperity, stability, fulfillment of simple human desires. The PMR President addressed the words of special gratitude to the military personnel of the Peacekeeping Forces, both of Pridnestrovie and Russia, noting the significance of the presence of the latter in the republic and the value of their contribution to the preservation of peace in different periods in different parts of the world.
Answering journalists' questions about today's holiday date, Vadim Krasnoselsky recalled that it appeared in the Soviet calendar under a different name. The essence has changed over time. “Today, it has acquired a different meaning - on this day we honor all the defenders of the Fatherland. If we talk about our Motherland, about Pridnestrovie, then in different eras people died here for independence, for freedom - and during the time of the Russian Empire, when Pridnestrovie was an outpost of the southern borders of Russia, whether it was the Second World War, when the fascist adversary was expelled from here, whether it was 1990-1992 years when the Pridnestrovian people fought against Moldovan nationalism and aggression. There were defenders in different eras. The defenders died, gave their lives for freedom and independence of course. Naturally, we honor the memory of our heroes. If we talk about the holiday in general, it is difficult to find a city in the post-Soviet space where there are no Memorials of memory and glory, where wars of different eras are not buried. The question arises for many immediately: why, is it necessary? You know how much dirt and lies are now. Former scoundrels, traitors become heroes, and those who defended their homeland become outcasts in some states. States are struggling with St. George ribbons for some reason, not understanding what it means. They fight with memory, with old people, tearing off their well-deserved orders and medals. I don't know what is causing this. Maybe this is stupidity, ignorance. The worst vices take possession of these people. I consider that today we are in a struggle, in a struggle for historical memory. Today's event is an element of the struggle for historical memory. The facts of history are a very stubborn thing that proves us right. Our duty to the fallen wars is to honor and remember everyone by name, to build monuments, to treat this at the proper human and state level. I think that states that remember their history have right to the future. And those who misrepresent, despises their ancestors, they are doomed. I feel sorry for them humanly".
Flower laying ceremonies are held today at various memorial sites. The 23rd of February was declared a day off on the occasion of the Defender of the Fatherland Day in Pridnestrovie.