The energy crisis in the Transnistrian region is the result of a complex of geopolitical factors, and the main responsibility for the current situation lies with the Russian Federation, the expert of IPN’s project Igor Boţan stated in a public debate hosted by IPN. He explained the causes that led to this situation and stressed that a lasting solution cannot be found as long as the region is under Moscow's influence, IPN reports.
According to the expert, one of the main reasons for the energy crisis is the war in Ukraine. Due to Russian aggression, Ukraine stopped the transit of gas from the Russian Federation, including to the Transnistrian region, which led to a major energy deficit.
Another key factor is Russia's support for separatism, including through the supply of gas as a donation. The expert emphasizes that this strategy is part of the political vision of Moscow, which aims to impose a new world order by maintaining frozen conflicts in the former Soviet republics.
From a legal point of view, the Republic of Moldova officially based its position on Transnistrian separatism on a study conducted by the American Bar Association in 2006. This points out that, according to international law, the responsibility for what is happening in the Transnistrian region lies with the Russian Federation. This conclusion was confirmed in 2017 by the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova, which declared the Transnistrian region as a territory occupied by Russia.
The expert noted that the European Union offers temporary support to the people living on the left bank of the Nistru, but a long-term solution cannot be applied as long as the region is under Russian control. In addition, although the inhabitants of the region are citizens of the Republic of Moldova, the territory is controlled by Moscow, which makes the European Court of Human Rights to penalize both the Russian Federation and the Republic of Moldova for human rights violations.
Boţan also stressed that, although the government in Chisinau seeks to support the population on the left bank of the Nistru, the mentality of many people there remains influenced by Russian propaganda. For over 30 years, Moscow has cultivated the idea that Moldova is the "enemy", which makes the change of perceptions extremely difficult.
In conclusion, the expert said that the Transnistrian problem has three essential components - Russia's aggression against Ukraine, artificially maintained separatism and the status of the region from the point of view of international law. As long as the Russian Federation controls this area, a real solution to the energy crisis and the Transnistrian conflict cannot be found.
