A permanent exhibition of photos, documents and personal objects of participants in the cleanup of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster was mounted at the Military Museum of the Center of Military History and Culture in Chisinau on December 14, when it its 31 years of the completion of works to build and place the steel and concrete sarcophagus over the nuclear reactor No. 4 building of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, where the accident occurred, IPN reports.
Vladimir Iliev, secretary of state at the Ministry of Defense, said the exhibition recollects those tragic moments and the heroic deeds of the over 3,500 Moldovans who were involved in the Chernobyl events of the spring of 1986. The exhibition immortalizes the suffering through which these went.
Ion Coropceanu, adviser to the Prime Minister, said the permanent exhibition is educative for the young generation and promotes the respect for the highest values. It is an event that immortalizes the courageous acts of the Moldovans. In the history of the Moldovan people, what followed the Chernobyl tragedy is a page of braveness and sacrifice. “The Republic of Moldova essentially contributed to the liquidation of the consequences, including the construction of the concrete structure. The exhibition will urge us all to think about these values and to implement them in the community so as to show an example to the young generation,” stated Ion Coropceanu.
Chairman of the public association “Uniunea Chernobyl” Tudor Capatana said that over 340,000 citizens became involved in the fierce struggle against the atomic enemy in April 1986. Owing to their heroism, a nuclear explosion that could have been bigger and would have annihilated half of Europe was prevented. “We must do our best for these acts of heroism not to be forgotten. Today, in 14 countries of the world the heroism and sacrifice of the participants in the Chernobyl cleanup is honored,” he noted.
According to the data presented in the opening of the exhibition, 2,056 Moldovans who took part in the Chernobyl cleanup are still alive. Most of these suffer from disabilities.
