#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.

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Events Archive

Event honoring the cultural worker Ion Ungureanu

August 2nd, 2017

On August 2, in the Blue Hall of the National Museum of History of Moldova, was held an event to homage actor and director, Ion Ungureanu, deputy in the First Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, minister of culture in 1990-1994, People's Artist, Laureate of the National Award. The event was organized by the Department of Culture of Chișinău City Hall, in collaboration with the National Museum of History of Moldova, on the day when the renowned cultural worker would have turned 82 years old.

The program of the event included: the release of the CD „Cine m-a strigat" (Who called me?) - poems by Grigore Vieru in Ion Ungureanu's reading; musical recital performed by soprano Mariana Bulicanu (National Opera) and violinist Ionel Manciu (Guildhall Music Academy, London), accompanied by Rodica Caraulan.

The emotions during the show were most intense, and the ceremony enjoyed the presence of numerous audiences: cultural workers, writers, actors, colleagues and disciples of Ion Ungureanu.

Ion Ungureanu was born on August 2, 1935. In 1960 he graduated from "B. Scyukin" Theater School in Moscow. He was one of the founders of the "Luceafărul" Theater and director of this institution in its golden years, he promoted the national language and culture, actors, playwrights, composers and plastic artists from Moldova. Under accusations of "nationalism", he had to leave Chișinău and move to Moscow. He returned to Chișinău in the years of national rebirth, he was deputy in the first Parliament and the person who read the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Moldova on 27 August 1991 in the Great National Assembly Square.

As Minister of Culture, during the period 1990-1994, Ion Ungureanu contributed to the awakening of the national consciences, relocation the statue of ruler Ştefan cel Mare it the original place, installation the monument of the Wolf-bearer in front of the National Museum of History of Moldova, renaming of the National Theater to "Mihai Eminescu", contribution to the opening of "Eugen Ionesco" Theater, Poetic theater "A. Mateevici", "Ciprian Porumbescu" High School, expanding the Alley of Classics and much more.

Ion Ungureanu died on January 28, 2017.