The military exercises with tanks in the Transnistrian region are an attempt by the Transnistrian administration to intimidate Chisinau, said experts invited to the program “Fabrika” on Publika TV channel, IPN reports.

Valentin Dediu, former director of the Security and Information Service, said the secessionist administration needs to mobilize in order to show its force. Tiraspol’s arguments that it gets ready for defense are illogical as there is no risk of aggression on the part of Chisinau.

Former deputy chief of the Major Staff of the Ministry of Defense Andrei Covrig considers that by these exercises, Tiraspol shows its muscles and intimidates Chisinau. They want to show that they have tanks, while we do not have them, though these tanks are old. The drill was also staged in the context of the events in Ukraine to show Russia what a reliable partner means.

Corneliu Ciurea, expert of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”, said that Moscow plays a direct role in organizing the exercises and targets at both Moldova and Ukraine. Thus, there are reasons for concern. This demonstration of power by the separatist regime also comes amid the economic crisis that seriously hit the region, with the opposition there becoming more active.

International law expert Vitalie Gamurari said that the staging of military exercises in Transnistria represents a violation of the international law norms de facto, not yet de jure as the Transnistrian region’s status wasn’t agreed and Transnistria wasn’t declared an occupied territory by Chisinau.

The program’s permanent invitee, journalist Cristian Tabara said that Tiraspol behaves like an independent state at a time when it is recognized not even by Russia.

Thus week, the Transnistrian administration initiated military exercises involving “T-60” tanks that were transmitted to it by the former 14th Army of Russia. The national army of Moldova does not have tanks.