Political analyst Vladimir Socor, of the U.S. Jamestown Foundation, said that if Moscow accelerates the process of granting Russian nationality to Transnistrians and this process becomes generalized, a comparison could be made again with the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia before the Russian invasion of 2008, after which Russia officially recognized the two republics. The fact that the Republic of Moldova does not have a common border with Russia is the basic difference and this is also a huge luck for Moldova, IPN reports.
“In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the process of granting Russian nationality was generalized. Practically all the inhabitants of these two territories received Russian nationality, surely without the consent of Georgia and, in many cases, without these people having applied for the nationality of Russia. They were offered it and they took it,” Vladimir Socor stated in an interview for Radio Free Europe.
According to the analyst, the granting of Russian nationality to the inhabitants of the Transnistrian region has been ongoing for several years and goes on without any obstacle. Russia asked to set up a Russian consulate in Tiraspol so as to grant more nationalities, at a faster pace. The Republic of Moldova refused to agree to something like this, but Russia has yet if not a consulate than a consular point in Tiraspol that grants nationality. It is estimated that about one third of the residents of the region have Russian nationality, but they also have another nationality. Many people in Transnistria have two or even three passports in the pocket.
Vladimir Socor also said that Moscow and Tiraspol, by the talks in the 5+2 format, want to force Chisinau to recognize the diplomats issued by the Transnistrian education institutions and register the units of transport. It is important for Moldova not to make concessions in this regard as this is in Moldova’s interests and it will also make common cause with Ukraine this way.
The analyst noted that Moldova is not directly threatened militarily by Russia, but Russia does concrete things on the spot. Vladimir Socor welcomed the firm attitude of Deputy Prime Minister Gheorghe Balan and the Government that, as a result of some hesitation, categorically refused to recognize the university diplomas and motor vehicles and license plates even if the participants in the 5+2 format exerted pressure on Gheorghe Balan at a certain moment.
