Figures and facts about Transnistrian conflict, part I

[Info-Prim Neo article of the series “20 years of the start of the war. When should we expect peace?”] The armed conflict between the two banks of the Nistru River during several years had been preceded by numerous acts aimed at separating the eastern region from the former Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic and afterward the Republic of Moldova. The secessionist processes were inspired from outside in the context of the national renaissance and self-determination movement of the Moldovan people in relation to the Soviet Union that started to fall apart, Info-Prim Neo, reports, quoting the Chisinau Center of Military Culture and History. According to a publication of the Center, anti-Moldovan events supported by Moscow anti-democratic forces were staged in Transnistria in [September 1989]. Afterward, the leaders of the so-called “unified soviet of the staffs” (known under the abbreviation OSTK) and the Communists convened the ‘congress of deputies of all levels’ from the Transnistrian districts and towns in Parcani village of Slobozia district. In the congress, they pleaded for becoming independent from the Republic of Moldova and for not recognizing the legal acts of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic. Shortly afterward, there were created paramilitary detachments named militia support units. On [March 11, 1991], a civil militia detachment consisting of 200 persons was set up under Tiraspol town executive committee. The members of the detachment wore camouflaged military uniforms without distinctive signs and were equipped with rubber sticks. They guarded the town soviet and were managed by the Tiraspol-based OSTK. Similar decisions were taken by the Dubasari and Rybnitsa town soviets, where there were created detachments of workers to help the militia. They had 300 and, respectively, 100 members. The armed forces of the separatist regime were set up based on these detachments. They were used for different purposes, including to provoke sociopolitical conflicts. By a decision of [May 6, 1991], the so-called supreme soviet of Transnistria, the district sections and other institutions of the Ministry of the Interior located on the left side of the Nistru were separated from Moldova’s Ministry of the Interior. There were created internal bodies and prosecution bodies of the separatist regime. The organization “Patriots of Dubasari” called on the residents of the town and the Transnistrian villages not to obey the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Moldova. Actions aimed at intimidating the Transnistrians and discrediting the official state institutions were taken during the next few months. On [August 19-21, 1991], a coup attempt was staged in Moscow, known as the August putsch. The leaders of the Transnistrian separatist regime offered unconditional support to the putsch organizers. On [August 27, 1991] Moldova proclaimed its independence from the Soviet Union. On [September 6, 1991], based on a decision of the so-called Transnistrian supreme soviet, concerning the measures to defend the sovereignty and independence of Transnistria, there was created the ‘republican guard’. On [September 10-12, 1991], at the instructions of the heads of the Odessa military district and the Russian 14th Army, there was convened the assembly of sergeants and officers, who said that regardless of the decisions of the military authorities, they would take the side of the separatists and would defend them if the situation worsened. As the personnel of the Transnistrian police stations continued to obey the Moldovan legislation, the secessionist forces started to constitute the institutions of a parallel ministry of the interior. On [September 10, 1991], the so-called Internal Division of Transnistria made an order to create a local militia section of the Rybnitsa executive committee. Threats were made against the police and the districts police stations and other bodies of the Ministry of the Interior were picketed. On [September 11], the separatist administration made a decision concerning the armed forces on the territory of Transnistria, whereby the decree of the President of Moldova on the withdrawal of the armed forces of the USSR and the Ministry of the Interior of the USSR from Moldova’s territory was invalidated. The military units of the 14th Army used this ‘cover’ to directly become involved in the conflict with the Moldovan constitutional authorities, on behalf of the separatist regime. Under the pressure of the secessionist bodies, on [September 19] the police station in Rybnitsa was transferred under the administration of the Internal Division of Transnistria. On [September 20], the Dubasari town soviet adopted the decision to remove the district police section and to create the Transnistrian district militia section. On [September 22], the Camenca district police section was also taken over by the secessionists. On [October 1, 1991], a conciliation agreement was signed to remedy the situation in the conflict zone. Points 3 and 4 of the protocol envisioned suspending the decisions on the creation of illegal state institutions and transferring back the existent bodies under the state administration. Protesting against these decisions, workers from Dubasari and Rybnitsa took steps to intimidate and blackmail the police officers who remained faithful to Moldova. The illegal actions became more and more violent. On [October 16, 1991], an explosive device with nitrotoluene was thrown in an office of the Dubasari district police section. Nobody was hurt. On [October 2, 1991], the Transnistrian executive adopted resolution No. 20 on the reorganization of the town militia division of the department of internal affairs, based on which the local police were placed outside Moldova’s jurisdiction. On [December 1, 1991], the separatist forces held so-called presidential elections. Armed persons and paramilitary groups intimidated the population and the police officers working in Transnistria and took steps to create parallel military bodies. Before the ‘elections’, armed separatists exerted pressure on managers of the local administration bodies working on the basis of the Moldovan legislation. On [November 27, 1991], six persons with Kalashnikov guns appeared in the building of the local soviet of Teia village of Grigoriopol district. They demanded that the soviet employees immediately organized propagandistic activities for the ‘presidential’ elections. The locals were threaded that by a bullet would be found for every person after December 1. The same persons warned the local administration that elections for Moldova’s President would not take place in the village on December 8. In the evening of [December 1, 1991], the bridge over the Nistru near Gura Bacului village was blocked. Two buses and a minibus with 20-25 ‘agitators’ arrived in Malaiesti village. The locals decided not to react to that demonstration of force and did not go to vote. Intimidation actions took place in practically all the villages of Grigoriopol district, including Speia, Butor, and Taslac. In the [December 7] meeting of the Bender town soviet, the separatists decided to close the police station in Bender. In two days, the police station was surrounded by guard members. Attempts were made to transfer the commissariat from the Ministry of the Interior of Moldova to the secessionist administration. The same day, an armed attack was staged on the building of the traffic police, its chief being physically abused. On [December 13], the police station in Dubasari was informed that it would be attacked. The Transnistrian guard members prepared for assault. Policemen of the Ministry of the Interior’s Guard and Patrolling Service were sent to provide support. Nor far from the traffic police post located at the intersection of the Dubasari-Rybnitsa-Grigoriopol road, armed guards opened fire at a group of police officers. Three policemen - Ghenadie Yablochkin, Mihail Arnaut and Valentin Mereniuc – were killed on the spot, while Gheorghe Casu died in the hospital later. Another nine police officers were injured. The four killed policemen were the first victims of the Nistru war. On [December 14, 1991], the guard members attacked the police force in Dubasari town. During the events, there were detained 34 guard members. Two machine guns, 20 Kalashnikov guns and military equipment were confiscated from them. During about four months, from [December 10, 1991] until [March 1992], the guard members staged 57 criminal acts against the police as a result of which four policemen were killed, 13 injured, while 40 maltreated. [Irina Ursu, Info-Prim Neo] [{Info-Prim Neo note: ] The next part of the article “Figures and facts about Transnistrian conflict” will be published on February 28}