Embassy of Russia awards medals to veterans holding Russian citizenship

The Russian Embassy in Moldova Wednesday decorated 13 Second World War veterans who have Russian nationality as well. The medals were awarded on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the victory over fascism, Info-Prim Neo reports. Several months ago, the Embassy asked the Russian Government to make 1,045 medals for the Soviet army veterans from Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, who are also citizens of Russia. Employes of the Embassy traveled to Transnistria, where most of the veterans holding Russian nationality live, and gave them the medals and congratulated them. “We are glad that the veterans are not forgotten. My husband is 83 and cannot see. When he found out he will be awarded, he asked me to accompany him. Every year, he receives letters from Vladimir Putin (Russia's Prime Minister -e.n.) on the Victory Day,” said Tamara Privalova, the wife of veteran Serghei Privalov. Russian Ambassador Valery Kuzmin told the journalists that the Moldovan Government's intention to make the Romanian officers who fought during the fascist repression heroes is not right. “It is the Soviet army that destroyed the fascism, contributing thus to the development of democracy in Europe,” he said. Evgheni Dolgov, vice chairman of the war veterans council, said a part of the 5,800 Moldovan veterans who fought as part of the Soviet army refuse to accept the medal “Commemorative Cross of the Second World War” that will be awarded by the Government of Moldova on May 9. “The cross is not a symbol of the World War II, but a symbol of Romania as it was designed according to a Romanian model. In 1941, Romania started the war against the USSR together with Germany. That's why our veterans do not want such crosses,” Dolgov said. Veteran Nicolae Kovalenko said he will accept the cross given by the Government of Moldova as he received a cross for bravery in war from the Polish Government as well. “All the veterans should be awarded medals, no matter how they look, as they deserve them,” he said. Veteran Vasile Batuev said he cannot believe that it is already 65 years of the end of the war. “The Government should better have named the cross “Saint George”. I don't like that it is black, but this is their policy,” he said. Under a Government decision, jubilee medals “Commemorative Cross of the Second World War” will be awarded to 7,985 veterans. The authorities decided to give identical medals to the Soviet army and Romanian army veterans in order to reconcile them.