The year 2014 will be a difficult year for Moldova, with many challenges. During this year the population will be subject to different kinds of manipulation, given the dynamics of the relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol. Expert in the Transnistrian issue Andrei Iovu stated for IPN that the expected signing of the Association Agreement with the EU and the parliamentary elections of this autumn create preconditions for implementing a destabilizing scenario, namely the recognition of the Transnistrian region by Russia.

“The closer Moldova comes to the EU, the more intense will be Transnistria’s efforts to block this process. Russia will make use of its hard-power to impose tough restrictions on the Moldovan migrants,” said the expert.

He does not exclude challenges at the checkpoints set up on the Transnistrian line and at the Moldovan-administered, Romanian language schools. “This year is an electoral one and the politicians will have to cope with these challenges in the election campaign. It will be a tumultuous year full of provocations and tense situations,” said the expert.

Andrei Iovu expects different surprises on the part of Russia in spring, including different price rises and bans on exports, and considers that the Communist Party will gain from this situation the most.

As to the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format, Andrei Iovu said that these negotiations will continue to be fake and will produce no appropriate solution.