Eugen Carpov: Corjova incident requires increased attention

Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Eugen Carpov stated on Thursday during the Parliament’s session that the situation in Corjova was exceptional and required increased attention, and the Government would take this into consideration. Carpov argued the demonstration in Corjova on March 2 was a peaceful one, didn’t disturb public order or the traffic, so that Transnistrian forces had no reason to intervene. “The event was strictly humanitarian in nature as it commemorated those who died during the war on the Nistru River. Their argument was that participants carried tricolors. I’m sure that if it had been a Russian or Ukrainian flag there would have been no problems”, said Eugen Carpov. The Deputy PM for Reintegration is participating in the OSCE Permanent Council in Wien, where the Moldovan delegation will address this issue. Moldova will request member states to demand the immediate release of the mayor and councilor from Corjova. After the Parliament’s session, PCRM leader Vladimir Voronin told the press the incident in Corjova, his native village, was related to the upcoming elections of the so-called president of Transnistria. “Some people in the Supreme Soviet don’t want Igor Smirnov to remain in power, so he is forced to take measures, provocations like these, to strengthen his positions. Through this incident, he wants to prove his people Transnistria would be lost without him”, said Voronin. Liberal leader Mihai Ghimpu told the journalists this instigation was a message from “Smirnovists” that they were the masters of that region. “Things like these will go on as long as we keep our heads down and think about what we can do. Authorities need to ring the alarm. We must speak, so that Europe heard us, people were on our side. We can’t wait for Smirnov to accept negotiations in the 5+2 format. What are we waiting for? Dialogue? It’s been already 20 years, that means the mechanism isn’t functioning”, said Ghimpu. On March 2, during a commemoration of fighters fallen in the 1992 war, the mayor of Corjova, Valeriu Mitsul, and local councilor, Iurie Cotsofan, were arrested by Transnistrian militia for carrying the Moldovan flag. An arrest warrant for 7 days has been issued against them.