President Maia Sandu took part today in the ceremony dedicated to the Day of Memory and Gratitude, TRIBUNA reports.

“Today we mark the Day of Memory and Gratitude — the day on which we bow our heads in remembrance of those who, in 1992, defended the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova. It is a day of pain and dignity. It is a day when we remember not only the deeds of those who fought, but above all the sacrifice they made. Because freedom came at a heavy price. For it, hundreds of people gave their lives. Tens of thousands of others put their health, their future, and the peace of their loved ones at risk. Behind every name engraved on a cross stands a life cut too short. Behind every veteran stands a story of courage, of devotion to the land inherited from our forebears. Commemorating the heroes of the Nistru war reminds us that freedom is not a given. It must be protected,” the official stated.

The President also noted that “we must call things by their name. In a war, the aggressor is the one who attacks. In 1992, the aggressor was Russia. Today, in Ukraine, the aggressor is Russia. Saying that ‘both sides are to blame’ means falsifying the truth. Moral neutrality in the face of aggression means not only cowardice, but also falsehood. And solidarity among peoples who have known aggression is a duty. The Republic of Moldova has not coveted foreign territories. It has not started wars. It has only defended its ancestral land. And even today, the aggression against our country has not disappeared. Only the methods have changed. If in 1992 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 defending memory must be part of national defense.”

“The Republic of Moldova does not want war. The Republic of Moldova wants peace. And true peace cannot be built on lies. And it cannot be built with foreign troops on our territory.

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 free. They showed that when freedom is in danger, Moldovans know how to rise. And it is our sacred obligation to continue what the heroes of those days began: to strengthen democracy, to reinforce state institutions, to ensure the security of our citizens, and to build a European, strong, and prosperous Moldova. And, in the name of those who fell and those who fought, we commit to keeping the flame of freedom alive. Every day,” Maia Sandu added.