The rejection by the Transnistrian leader of the European projects and the blocking of the Transnistrian conflict settlements talks are acts aimed at destabilizing the situation that are orchestrated by Moscow. Such statements were made in the program “Fabrika” on Publika TV channel, IPN reports.
Gheorghe Balan, director of the Reintegration Office of Moldova, said that Russia purportedly banned Tiraspol from accepting European assistance so as not to endanger the existence of the separatist regime. “Russia understands that if Transnistria accepts this money, the region will develop at the same pace as the right side of the Nistru. We see how many things were done in Moldova with European funds. The people in Transnistria will realize what freedom in Moldova means. It’s clear that it is Moscow’s hand as Tiraspol cannot take decisions by itself,” he stated.
International law expert Vitalie Gamurari also considers that Tiraspol cannot take decisions without the Kremlin’s consent. “In this case, we can draw a historical parallel. The cold war started in fact after the Soviet side didn’t agree to implement the Marshall Plan for the Czech Republic. The situation now is similar. Those from Tiraspol decide nothing. The solution is in Moscow. Russia does not have now money for Transnistria following the annexation of Crimea. So, Moscow can resort only to misinformation and provocations,” he said.
Former member of the Joint Control Commissions Ion Leahu said this commission hasn’t worked since June and its activity was blocked with Moscow’s involvement. “They do it to show us that the situation is getting out of our control,” he stated.
A former employee of the Interior Ministry Valeriu Cerba said that Tiraspol’s reaction is due to the fact that the European integration process in Moldova became a positive magnetic field for the Transnistrians, especially for the economic entities from there. He stated that more concrete measures should be taken to strengthen the two sides of the Nistru so as to make the leaders from Tiraspol go back from where they came.
The program’s permanent invitee, journalist Cristian Tabara said the Transnistrian leader Yevgeny Shevchuk feels that the people started to open the eyes and that a rupture appears between his messages and the people’s wishes. The residents of Transnistria realize that the EU is not the monster about which they were told, while the living conditions in the region become worse.