PSL suggests Moldova’s MFA should use OSCE and CoE instruments to bring public pressure on Russia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova should react more resolutely and inform the public opinion about the holding of elections for Russia’s State Duma in the Transnistrian region, without the consent of Chisinau, says Oleg Serebrian, the president of the Social Liberal Party (PSL). Serebrian stated at a news conference on Monday, December 3, that the OSCE and the Council of Europe, as well as other institutions that monitor the situation in the region and are able to bring pressure on Russia, will not react in any way as long as the Moldovan authorities remain silent. Serebrian believes that the respective actions by the Russian Federation have directly offended the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. According to the PSL leader, Russia’s MFA tried to justify the legitimacy of opening polling stations in the Transnistrian region by citing international treaties and conventions and invoking citizens’ right to vote. However, Serebrian says, none of the cited international acts allows a country to arrange elections on the territory of another country without getting prior consent of the latter. And Moldova’s MFA announced officially it didn’t want any polling stations in the eastern region, the Social Liberal leader pointed out. According to the Transnistrian news agency “Olvia-press”, ten polling stations were opened in Tiraspol on December 2, six in Bender, by two in Dubasari and Rabnita and by one in Slobozia, Dnestrovsc, Grigoriopol and Crasnoie. A team with a mobile ballot box traveled to Camenca. The information was not confirmed by the Russian Embassy in Chisinau. In Chisinau, according to a communiqué from the Russian diplomatic mission, more than 47,700 took part in State Duma elections on December 2.