Are the Fears of Moldovan Government Grounded?

• 05.27.2015, 12:45
•  Europe,  World

The War of Transnistria, the territory which was known as the autonomous unit with special legal status, broke out between Moldova and Transnistria as early as in 1990, during which some Russian and Ukrainian volunteers sided with the Transnistria. The fighting intensified throughout early 1992. The former Soviet Army joined the conflict in its final stage. At the end a ceasefire agreement was signed on 21 July 1992 and has held to the present day. Moldova didn’t exercise any effective influence or control on Transnistria after Transnistria declared its independence in 1990.  

The interesting thing is that earlier this week, it turned out that Transnistrian organizations  aim to appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking him to protect the people of Transnistria if any external threat emerged. The appeal is connected with the concern caused in Transnistria after Ukrainian authorities  decided to forbid transit rights for Russian peacekeepers to Transnistria.  After  Kiev closed  the corridor, the Russian peacekeepers found themselves blockaded in the unrecognized republic of Transnistria.

Commenting on the situation to Kommersant newspaper, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin stated that "this is an act of betrayal by Ukrainian authorities towards their own citizens living in Transnistria, who number at least 60,000.  From now on, it will fall on Russia's shoulders to ensure their protection."

The Moldovan government, in its turn,  has serious fears that Russia is thus trying to carry out a scenario similar to the one in eastern Ukraine. All this has caused a big burst of emotion in Chisneu, with one of Moldovan political experts stating:  "It contradicts  the geopolitical interests of Moscow, and I am sure that the Russian leadership will do everything possible to defend their position in this region, and will not allow the escalation of the conflict".

As for Transnistrian part itself, the Eurasianet tells, that the Foreign Minister of Transnistria Nina Shtanski  has called Kiev's decision “illogical”, noting that the decision forces the  Transnistrian government to reevaluate the fact of Ukraine’s being one of the guarantors of peace and stability in the region.