The Reintegration Policies Bureau issued a statement in connection with the upcoming elections in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. “So-called “presidential elections” are to be held in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova on Decembers 12 this year. We ascertain that this exercise is held outside the constitutional framework and in breach of the legislation of the Republic of Moldova,” says the statement that is quoted by IPN. The Bureau reiterates the position of the Government of the Republic of Moldova that such “elections” cannot be recognized and are considered null and void.
“We note that this “electoral” exercise is held in conditions of nonobservance of the international democratic standards, with cases of systemic suppression of the freedom of expression and pluralism of opinion, with presence of harsh censorship in the region and other human rights violations,” runs the statement.
The Reintegration Policies Bureau calls on the international partners to refrain from statements, covering, assigning of “electoral observers” or other actions and contacts with representatives of Tiraspol on the issue so as to exclude any legalization of the so-called “elections”.
“Such actions will be considered defiance of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and can have a counterproductive impact on the Transnistrian settlement process”.
The first so-called “presidential elections” in the unrecognized Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova were held on December 1, 1991, with Igor Smirnov being declared winner in these. Smirnov won three terms, holding office for 20 years, until the end of 2011, when he was replaced by Yevgeny Shevchuk. The incumbent leader Vadim Krasnoselsky won the elections of December 2016 and is running again.
