Three decades tragic for the Pridnestrovian people have passed since 1992, when Moldova unleashed a large-scale aggression against the civilian population on the left bank of the Dniester. There are as many dates inscribed in Pridnestrovian history with gunpowder and blood as there were attacks on the settlements of the young republic, terrorist acts, nationalist attacks under the guise of supposedly good intentions, called by Moldova "restoring constitutional order".
Pridnestrovians recall today the events that took place on the 1st of April, 1992 in Bendery. The nationalists of Moldova on two armored personnel vehicles broke into the awakening city at dawn, shot the guards’ UAZ, the traffic militia patrol car and the bus, in which there were workers of the local cotton-spinning factory. Six people died. A memorial sign has been built at the site of the violence. The street where the tragic events took place was named after the deceased militia captain Grigory Yechin. An Orthodox chapel was built in the early 2000s. Commemorative events are held here every year on the 1st of April. Today is no exception. The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky, heads of state authorities and administration, defenders of Pridnestrovie and their families, close people of the dead heroes, law enforcement officers of the republic, the public are among the many participants in the mourning rally.
The PMR President addressed the audience. Words of special support Vadim Krasnoselsky addressed to the relatives of those who gave their lives defending Pridnestrovie. The President recalled the events that preceded the tragedy that took place in Bendery on April 1 and in general on the Pridnestrovian land in the spring and summer of 1992. He spoke about the nationalism that has raised its head in Moldova since the late 80s of the last century, about the futile attempts to deprive the people of Pridnestrovie of the right and opportunity to speak their native language, to sow inter-ethnic discord, to make mono-nationality of the state the norm of life. He focused on the destruction of the statehood of the MSSR and the adoption by Moldova of documents that changed not only the course of history, but also the national identity of the Moldovan people, noting that these events laid the foundation for the creation of two societies – the Moldovan one, positioning itself as part of the Romanian, and the multinational Pridnestrovian, which absorbed all the diversity of cultures, history, traditions of the peoples living on the territory of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Vadim Krasnoselsky told about the most tragic period in the history of modern Pridnestrovie, associated with military aggression against the civilian population. The PMR President considers the actions of Moldova to be nothing more than a terrorist act, war crime, the perpetrators of which have not yet been punished. Moreover, no legal assessment was given to the events of 1992, Vadim Krasnoselsky recalled. He indicated that modern Moldova still honors those who killed Pridnestrovians. This year, they were given a special honor – the year 2022 was named after the combatants in Moldova, while Pridnestrovie declared healthcare a priority this year.
Vadim Krasnoselsky recalled the peace-loving nature of Pridnestrovie and the republic's defensive military doctrine, stressing that any aggression against the republic would be repelled. He noted that the Pridnestrovian state, as before, strives for a dialogue based on the principles of equality and mutual respect.
Returning to the events of April 1, 1992, Vadim Krasnoselsky expressed gratitude to the defenders, condolences to the relatives, friends, colleagues of the victims. The President urged to remember the tragedy that happened three decades ago, but which does not have a statute of limitations, to honor the memory of the heroes and protect peace in our native land.
Vadim Krasnoselsky on behalf of the Pridnestrovian people laid flowers at the memorial stone.