The pollution of the Nistru endangers an extremely large number of citizens, as the Nistru supplies water to 1.7 million people. The statement belongs to the former Minister of Environment, Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov, Executive Director of the public association EcoContact and was made during the public debate “How can Moldova hold Russia accountable for attacks on its security?”, organized by the IPN Press Agency.
The statement comes in the context of the massive pollution of the Dniester River, caused by bombings on the infrastructure in Ukraine, a phenomenon that has affected a significant number of localities in the Republic of Moldova. The former minister drew attention to the extent of the impact and the long-term risks for the population and the environment.
Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov highlighted the extent of the population’s dependence on the water of the Dniester and the uncertainties regarding the effects of pollution.
“The Nistru provides water for 1.7 million citizens. This means that the actions that need to be taken by the authorities to stop this pollution extend to a very large number of people. We still do not know what the impact is, because the pollution continues. We also have contradictory information regarding the source of this pollution. Massive investigations have been conducted, samples have also been taken from the sediments. If pollution is detected in the sediment, this will mean that the pollution is long-term,” said the former Minister of the Environment, Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov.
The former minister emphasized the need for the involvement of an extensive team of specialists and cooperation with the authorities in Ukraine for documenting the case. “Now, the most important thing is to be able to correctly collect the evidence. A team of specialists needs to work. This case cannot be left to a single prosecutor, because he will not cope. Commissions rogatory need to be created, for the collection of data also from Ukraine. Ukraine, likewise, has opened a criminal case on the subject of the pollution of the Dniester. Therefore, the two teams of specialists must collaborate,” said the former environment minister.
Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov drew attention to the lack of experience of the Republic of Moldova in managing cross-border pollution cases and the importance of evidence accumulation over time.
“Moldova has no experience in investigating cross-border pollution. We must correctly document the evidence, have it ready, so that when the diplomat of an aggressor state comes and mocks us, we can present it. Environmental pollution is an ongoing process, evidence accumulates over time, and the damage increases according to the new evidence. Water samples are taken at different distances, in different areas, thus there are different concentrations. And the effects of water pollution on biodiversity can only be demonstrated after a longer period of time,” said Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov.
The public debate “How can Moldova hold Russia accountable for its security breaches?” is the 345th edition in the series “Developing political culture in public debates”. The project is supported by the German Foundation “Hanns Seidel”.
