President - 34 years after war on Dniester: In the name of those who fell and fought, we commit to keeping the flame of freedom alive. Every day

President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu took part today together with veterans, officials and employees of state institutions in the March of Memory and in the solemn ceremonies of laying flowers at the monument of Stefan cel Mare and at Grieving Mother Memorial Complex. The events took place in the context of Remembrance and Gratitude Day and are dedicated to those who, in 1992, defended the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova.

“Remembrance and Gratitude Day is not only about the past. It is also about the future. It is about the values that define us. It is about our attachment to freedom, democracy and peace. It is about our natural place in the family of European states that cherish human dignity and the common good. Knowing our history and the sacrifices of our ancestors is a condition for a strong state. Without memory, there is no identity. Without identity, there is no resilience. Without resilience, there is no security,” the head of state said.

Maia Sandu also underlined that our country is still subjected today to aggression aimed at destabilizing and dividing society.

“The Republic of Moldova has not coveted foreign territories. It has not started wars. It has only defended its ancestral land. And even to this day, the aggression against our country has not disappeared. Only the methods have changed. If in 1992 the aggression came with tanks, today it comes through propaganda, manipulation, and disinformation. We are living through a genuine cognitive war — a war that targets memory and identity. A war that tries to relativize responsibility, to confuse the aggressor with the victim. That is why the defense of memory must be part of national defense,” the head of state stressed.

At the same time, the President reiterated the firm request of the authorities for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

“We firmly demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The events of 1992 demonstrated our character and our will to live in freedom. They showed that when freedom is endangered, Moldovans know how to rise. And it is our sacred duty to continue what the heroes of those days have done. To consolidate democracy, to strengthen state institutions in order to ensure the security of our citizens and to build a strong, prosperous European Moldova. And, in the name of those who fell and fought, we commit to keeping the flame of freedom alive. Every day,” the head of state declared.

According to official data, 321 people lost their lives in the 1992 war on the Dniester and around one thousand people were injured.

Maia Sandu’s speech can be followed here.