Today is the 31st anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. February 15 is listed as the Day of Remembrance and Glory of Internationalist Warriors in the Pridnestrovian calendar of memorable dates. A rally "Afghanistan living memory" was held in the capital. The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky took part in it. The President welcomed the Afghan warriors, the relatives of those who died while performing an international duty in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, or died later from wounds and illnesses, as well as everyone who came to the Glory Memorial today to recall the events of more than thirty years ago, reasons, premises, consequences and, most importantly, heroes of that war. Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that for three decades he has kept his own – son’s - memories: his father fought in Afghanistan.
“When one speaks of the feat of a Soviet soldier, it usually refers to a military feat. But why doesn’t they say that Soviet people have built thousands of hospitals, schools, kindergartens, communal facilities, roads and so on in Afghanistan over 9 years? And at the same time there were forces that provoked the conflict, shot in the back, destroying what they created, built Soviet citizens. It was a big Soviet construction site, huge investments, and this had to be protected. No one else invests anything. Afghanistan has become a territory where drugs are grown that are distributed around the world. The feat of Soviet soldiers and officers, Soviet people of civilian professions is undeniable. It forever remained on Afghan soil and in our hearts”, said Vadim Krasnoselsky. The President spoke of the heroism and sacrifice of Soviet troops. He emphasized that 80% of Pridnestrovians who returned from Afghanistan in the early 90s of the last century again took up arms in order to protect their native land and defend the independence of Pridnestrovie.
The President called to preserve the memory and honor the deed of the dead, expressed gratitude to the living internationalist soldiers and asked to talk as much as possible about the true facts of the Afghan war and the role that Soviet people played in it.
The PMR President, representatives of state authorities and public administration, public organizations and educational institutions, military and clergy, residents and guests of the capital honored the memory of the dead with a minute of silence and laid flowers at the monument to the Afghan Warrior. The names of 14 Tiraspol residents who did not return from the Afghan war are carved in stone. Their portraits today were carried along the main city square by the pupils of the Tiraspol Suvorov Military School. 54 Pridnestrovians died in Afghanistan. In memory of them, events are organized in all towns and districts of the republic.
