It was an uninspired game on the part of both sides, said MP of the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) Oazu Nantoi, commenting on the meeting of Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Serebrian and Tiraspol’s representative Vitaly Ignatiev following the entry into force of amendments to the Customs Code, which require economic agents from the left bank of the Nistru to pay customs duties to the budget of the Republic of Moldova. For his part, the leader of the Coalition for Unity and Wellbeing (CUB) Igor Munteanu said that as the Transnistrian region has blackmail levers in relation to the government in Chisinau, the legislation may not be respected, IPN reports.
On Tuesday, after talks with Tiraspol’s chief negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Serebrian said that Chisinau’s decision to economically reintegrate the Transnistrian region is firm. It happens after the tax incentives previously enjoyed by economic agents from the left bank of the Nistru River were eliminated on January 1 through amendments to the Customs Code.
“The war in Ukraine has isolated this strip of land from Russia. They have become much more vulnerable. Currently, we have cohabitation between the left bank and the right bank, if we look at the energy sector. They produce energy from stolen Russian gas and offer it to the right bank, and we pay a reasonable price. We maintain this regime. What happened in Tiraspol is rather a show. Those in Tiraspol know that the law was already adopted and they must execute it. An uninspired game is being played on both sides. The question that remains open is, how shall we act further,” PAS MP Oazu Nantoi stated in the program “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel.
In the same connection, CUB chairman Igor Munteanu wondered if the new provisions of the Customs Code will be applied in relation to economic agents from the left bank of the Nistru, given that Tiraspol, having energy leverage, can blackmail Chisinau.
“There are many situations when the Transnistrian region kept under control the authorities in Chisinau because it has energy leverage, access to farmland land and others. This expansion of the customs space is an absolutely objective, organic and necessary trend. The amendments to the Customs Code were announced three years ago. So, economic agents should have prepared, but here comes the political dimension. You can make amendments to a Customs Code when you expect the other party to comply. And when the other side is used to the elements of blackmail and pressure, they may not comply with the rigors,” stated Igor Munteanu.
In response to the obliging of economic agents from the left bank of the Nistru to pay customs duties, the Tiraspol administration announced that it would cancel the so-called preferential customs regime for Dubăsari farmers, who have farmland located beyond the Rybnitsa-Tiraspol road.
