Today Bendery marks the 607th anniversary of the day when the city was first mentioned in a historical document. It refers to the patent issued by the Moldovan prince, Alexander the Good, on 8 October 1408 to Lviv merchants. The patent gave them the right to trade in the towns along the Dnister, and Bendery was mentioned in it under the name of Tyagyanakacha. Thus, it is 8 October that is the official holiday for all the residents — Bendery’s City Day.
The rally which took place near the City of Military Glory monument at 10am gave start to celebrations. President Yevgeny Shevchuk opened the rally with a speech of welcome. He congratulated city residents, noting that the history of Bendery is closely connected with the lives of the famous Russian commanders-in-chief, such as Mikhail Kutuzov and Alexander Lebed.
«The history also witnessed the tragic days, weeks, months of defence of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic by Bendery's defenders who saved the city back in 1992," added the president. Yevgeny Shevchuk expressed gratitude to the Bendery defenders present at the rally for their courage and heroism and also highlighted the considerable role of the Russian military in establishing and maintaining peace in the region.
In his turn, the head of Bendery's state administration underscored that, despite the tragic events the city had to outlive and difficult economic situation in the country, Bendery becomes more beautiful and convenient from year to year. «May Bendery remain the same comfortable and flourishing, and may the life of every Bendery family be full with spiritual warmth, happiness, hope for the better," said the head of the city.
In the follow-up to the rally, the prime minister and cabinet members, parliamentary and local deputies, representatives of city authorities, ministries and agencies, Pridnestrovi'e peacekeepers, Bendery defenders and residents laid flowers to the City of Military Glory monument and to the Memorial of Remembrance and Sorrow. The military parade of city defenders of all generations concluded the rally.
Past the monument marched the peacekeepers, Defence Ministry and Interior Ministry detachments, soldiers wearing the uniform of those who liberated the city from Nazi invaders and the uniform of the 55th Podolsky infantry regiment that was quartered in Bendery in the 19th century.
Among other festive events Bendery residents and guests may visit today are the photo-exhibition My Family Affected with the War which opens at 1pm and the concert «Happy Holiday, My Lovely City!” which begins at 3pm in Tkachenko House of Culture.
