Pridnestrovie honored the memory of soldiers-internationalists

The last Soviet soldier on February 15, 1989 left Afghanistan. 620000 Soviet soldiers completed military service in Afghanistan in less than 10 years of hostilities. Over 13 thousand people gave their lives, fulfilling their international duty. More than 2 thousand Pridnestrovians went through the Afghan war. 54 of these did not return home.

Meeting-requiem dedicated to the 34th anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan was held at the capital's Memorial of Glory today. Flowers were laid at the monument "To the Sons of the Fatherland – Soldiers of the Afghan War of 1979-1989", as well as at the foot of the "Grieving Mother" and the pedestal "Defender of Pridnestrovie" by the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vadim Krasnoselsky, Chairman of the Supreme Council Alexander Korshunov, Chairman of the Government Alexander Rosenberg, representatives of state authorities, military personnel, representatives of public and educational institutions, as well as caring residents of the capital.

The President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic noted in his address to the rally participants the contribution of Afghan soldiers to the cause of maintaining peace and countering terrorism.

Igor Buga, Chairman of the Pridnestrovian Association of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan, Deputy of the PMR Supreme Council addressed the Afghan veterans.

The Afghan soldiers were among the first to defend the independence of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic from the aggression in the early 1990of the nationalists of Moldova. 27 defenders of Pridnestrovie, who had passed through Afghanistan before, died during the fighting in 1991-92. Afghan veterans are active in social activities are engaged in patriotic education of youth. The soldiers-internationalists take over this baton of memory from the veterans of the Great Patriotic War.

The state actively supports the Afghan soldiers. The laws of the PMR provide for a number of benefits and guarantees both for combatants and war invalids, as well as widows and mothers who lost their husbands and sons in Afghanistan. The basic law regulating state support for internationalist soldiers is the Law of the PMR “On the Social Protection of War Veterans”.

For example, Afghan soldiers have the right to free medicines (the list is established by the Government of the PMR), to extraordinary and free dental prosthetics in clinics, income tax benefits, and the right to free travel in public transport. Pridnestrovian legislation guarantees Afghan veterans a 50% discount on utility bills within the consumption norms. Privilege is provided for the purchase of fuel for those living in houses without central heating. Soldiers-internationalists are provided with vouchers to sanatoriums, dispensaries, rehabilitation departments, and rest houses at the expense of the budget.

Commemorative events dedicated to the soldiers who performed their international duty outside their homeland were held today in all cities of Pridnestrovie.