The farmers from Dubasari district, who own farmland beyond the Rybnitsa-Tiraspol road on the territory controlled by the Transnistrian administration, demand that the constitutional authorities compensate them for the losses sustained because they cannot cultivate their land. If they do not receive compensation, they will block the internal customs posts in Cosnita. The farmers say they do not aim to destabilize the situation before the parliamentary elections, but are in a desperate situation.
In a news conference at IPN, jurist of “Promo-LEX” Association Alexandru Zubco, who provides legal advise to the farmers from Dubasari, said their situation hasn’t changed since March and they do not have access to the own farmland. The scenario of 10 years ago repeats. “We will monitor the situation and will offer assistance to the farmers from the left side of the Nistru. We know that the ECHR is to examine a complaint concerning the violation of Article 1 by Moldova and Russia,” he stated.
Petru Bondari, farmland owner from Pohrebea village of Dubasari district, said that a meeting of owners of farmland located beyond the Rybnitsa-Tiraspol road was held on September 25. The farmers there formulated a number of demands addressed to the Government of Moldova. They asked ensuring access to their farmland, covering the costs incurred until now, estimated at 13.4 million lei, and compensating them for the sustained losses – 2,500 lei per every hectare. The farmers gave the authorities time until October 1. Afterward they will mount protests.
Another land owner from Cocieri Petru Nirca said the problem of farmland is not new. The government knows what is going on there. The farmers didn’t doubt Prime Minister Iurie Leanca’s promise to help them, but the situation hasn’t yet improved. Despite the fact that the promised financial resources have been already identified, the Government hasn’t yet worked out a mechanism for distributing them. It is rumored that the farmers from Dubasari will get 8 million lei, not 13 million lei as expected.
After the conference, the farmers went to the Government Building to ask for an audience with the Premier.
