Moldovan delegation to JCC warns of potential escalation of tensions in Bender

The Moldovan delegation to the Joint Control Commission is concerned over a potential escalation of tensions in Bender following calls for disobedience to the Moldovan law enforcement bodies, and is urging the delegations of Russia, Ukraine and the OSCR to join forces and prevent it, the delegation said in a statement on Thursday. On September 6, the Moldovan delegation notified the other JCC members of the “destructive actions” by the Transnistrian authorities directed against obstructing the work of the Bender Police Commissariat. However, the only reaction came from the Transnistrian side, which confirmed its intention to restrict the activity of the Moldovan police. The Moldovan delegation in particular refers to the public appeals circulated in the Transnistrian media which declared the Moldovan police's activity in Bender unlawful and which called to disobedience to the police. This, according to the Moldovan delegation, is yet another provocation in the Security Zone which violates the peaceful principles of the conflict settlement enshrined in the 1992 cease-fire agreement. The Moldovan delegation said it possessed information that this “process of artificial escalation of the situation” has involved the local administration as well, which has declared it will obstruct the activity of the Moldovan police by any available means. There are also reports of a rally which is planned with the intention of ousting the Police Commissariat. Further, businesses in the neighborhood Severnyi were reportedly told to terminate any contracts with the Moldovan authorities, including the police. The 1992 cease-fire agreement explicitly states that public order in Bender is ensured by the JCC together with police and militsiya forces.