#Exhibit of the Month

The work In Memoriam. In Memory of the Heroes Who Fell at the Nistru (1992) was developed within the Center for Culture and Military History and published under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Bureau for Reintegration, and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova. Authors: Gheorghe Bălan, Vitalie Ciobanu, Gheorghe Cojocaru.

This work provides a retrospective of the events that led to the outbreak of the war on the Nistru, accompanied by photographs of the heroes who lost their lives in the battles to defend the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

On March 2, 1992, the political conflict in the Nistru region escalated into a true fratricidal war. Under the fabricated pretext of "defending Russia's southern borders," political adventurers from the former Soviet metropolis encouraged Transnistrian separatism by arming secessionist paramilitary groups. At the same time, thousands of mercenary Cossacks and prisoners released early from jails, along with tanks and missiles, were sent against Independent Moldova, in a desperate attempt to revive the fallen empire.

Russia's undeclared war against the Republic of Moldova left behind hundreds of dead and wounded, shattered families, and villages in ruins. More than 50,000 peaceful residents from the conflict zone were forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge from the horrors of war.

For the sake of freedom and the future, Moldova's defenders faced death, enduring the hardships and humiliations of war.

During the Nistru war, 198 soldiers of the National Army and 89 personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs lost their lives, while 40 combatants went missing without a trace, and nearly 300 were left disabled.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

„Republic of Moldova in philately: history and culture”

Dedicated to the Independence Day

August 25th– September 7th, 2014

Philately, part of cultural inheritance, is and will remain a representative element of the country's image into the world. The stamp, a true ambassador of history and traditions, of cultural, national and universal moral values is rightfully considered at international level one of national symbols along with the flag, coat of arms, hymn and coin.

Exhibition „Republic of Moldova in philately: history and culture”

The body responsible for the issue, circulation and retreat from circulation of postal stamps in the Republic of Moldova from 1992 on, after accession to the Universal Postal Union, is the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications. Printing and publishing philatelic material is charged to the State Enterprise "Poșta Moldovei".

The first postal stamps of Republic of Moldova were issued on June 23^rd, 1991 and were dedicated to the first anniversary of the proclamation of sovereignty, bearing statehood attributes - coat of arms and flag of Republic of Moldova.

Moldova was the first former Soviet country to issue its own stamps. From 1991 to date were issued 875 official marks of Republic of Moldova.

The exhibition reunites many philatelic objects issued between 1991 and 2014 by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications of Republic of Moldova - postal stamps, booklets and laced sheets, envelopes, postcards, models and essays - stored in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova and the State enterprise „Poșta Moldovei".

In the multitude of topics addressed for 23 years, Moldovan philately promoted with honor cultural and historical values. Most representative philatelic objects are part of the exhibition framework. Turning point moments from our history, history and culture personalities, symbolic landmarks and monuments, heritage objects are among the aspects mirrored in the exhibition. Philatelic materials display: the Great National Assembly, election day of the first president of Republic of Moldova, 15 years from accession to UN, 70 years from the first mass deportation wave of Bessarabaians; fortresses of Soroca, Tighina (Bender), Orhei, Hotin, Cetatea Albă, Ismail and Chilia; monasteries of Căpriana, Curchi, Hârbovăț, Japca, Rudi, Saharna and Ţipova; rulers of Moldova such as Alexandru cel Bun, Ştefan cel Mare, Petru Rareș, Mihai Viteazul, Vasile Lupu, Dimitrie Cantemir etc.; eminent personalities such as G. Ureche, Dosoftei, Varlaam, M. Costin, N. Milescu, I. Creangă, M. Eminescu, A. Bernardazzi, M. Berezovschi, A. Mateevici, Pan Halipa, Ş. Ciobanu, G. Vieru, M. Bieșu etc.

Thus, philatelic materials displayed in the exhibition illustrate the true national values that should not be forgotten, as they are what characterize us, define us, and enrich us.

With this exhibition, the public is being offered a small part of the living inheritance of our past and the opportunity to admire the beauty of design, of colors and printing technique of philatelic pieces.