Protest against deployment of Moldovan military men in Afghanistan

A group of young people representing the Russian Youth League Thursday staged a protest in the center of Chisinau to express their disagreement with the Moldovan authorities' alleged intention to send troops to Afghanistan, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The war fought by the USSR in Afghanistan resulted in the death of 301 Moldovans, whose mothers and wives remained grieving. We do not need new caskets with our lads,” said one of the protesters, who wished to remain anonymous. Attending the protest, reserve Colonel Anatolie Cociug said that he knows what a war is and what consequences it has as he participated in many military conflicts. “It will be a wrong step that will have serious consequences.” The protesters said the presence of Moldovan military men in Afghanistan would be in NATO's interest, but to the detriment of the relations with the Muslim countries. In order to remove similar fears, Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta said earlier the young men who do their military service in the armed forces will not take part in military peacekeeping operations in foreign countries, including Afghanistan. He explained that it is the prerogative of the Parliament not of the Government to decide such issues. Nevertheless, the protesting members of the Russian Youth League decided to send a letter to the Filat Government, asking that no Moldovan military man be sent to Afghanistan.