“I admit that there was indeed official correspondence not only at national level, but also at international level concerning the metallurgical plant,” Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Cristinei Lesnic stated in a news conference, commenting on Prime Minister Pavel Filip’s intervention to have the sanctions imposed by Ukraine against the Rybnitsa metallurgical plant annulled. She said the problem was discussed in the 5+2 format meeting last year as well.

According to Cristin Lesnic, Chisinau is not interested in creating administrative barriers or obstacles to any of the business entities. “Our approach is balanced, either the business entity is registered officially on the right side or on the left side of the Nistru. I reaffirm that today that business entity has a legal status in our register,” stated the official.

The Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration also said she does not think it is something unordinary when the Government intervenes to ensure that each business entity works normally, without administrative obstacles and hindrances.

The OSCE Special Representative for the Transnistrian Settlement Process Franco Frattini said the steps taken by the Government of Moldova remove the administrative obstacles.

According to RISE Moldova, Prime Minister Pavel Filip exerted his influence to help the Rybnitsa metallurgical plant get rid of the sanctions imposed by Ukraine against over 700 entities with links to Moscow in May 2018. An investigation carried out jointly with a team from Ukraine presents a letter signed by Pavel Filip whereby he requests the administration in Kiev not only to annul the sanction imposed against the plant situated in the separatist region, but to also stop any investigation in relation to this.