Igor Smirnov, "The main task is to strengthen our statehood"

The light holiday Martsishor is celebrated many centuries on the banks of the river in the early spring. 25 years ago it was shaded by terrible event. March 2, 1992 a large-scale aggression against Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic began and Martsishor acquired a bloody color. Today, a quarter century later, a rally-requiem was held in honor in Dubossary in memory of the fallen defenders of the rally-requiem. Defenders of the republic, relatives of the victims, the citizens gathered at the Memorial of military glory. Participation in the meeting took the head of the republic Vadim Krasnoselsky, the first president Igor Smirnov, the Supreme Council Chairman Alexander Shcherba, the Chairman of the government Alexander Martynov, deputies of the Supreme Council Peter Pasat, Oleg Bayev, Andrei Sipchenko, Oleg Belyakov, as well as heads of ministries and departments. The President reminded that March 2, 1992 Moldova joined the United Nations.

They recalled events of March 1992 at the rally, when Moldavian aggressors attempted to capture Dubossary. Late in the evening March 1, the first chief of Dubossary militia department, Igor Sipchenko was mortally wounded, the same night the major of militia died. Then, Moldovan police in Dubossary was disarmed and expelled without a shot fired from the Pridnestrovian side. Although 30 Moldovan policemen surrendered surrender without putting up a fight, during their boarding to the bus, unknown persons started treacherous fire, causing the death of 18-year-old Cossack Mikhail Zubkov.

An undeclared war on the banks of the Dniester killed 156 Dubossary defenders, 44 were missing. According to the Decree of the President Vadim Krasnoselsky March 2 was the day of reflection of large-scale aggression of Moldova against Pridnestrovie was declared as Memorial Day across the republic.

A large delegation with the head of the city came from Bendery, defenders from all over the republic came to commemorate those fallen in Dubossary. Participants of the rally laid flowers; there was a minute of silence in memory of the fallen heroes.