Russia finances certain companies from the Transnistrian area and it is mistaken to say it grants humanitarian aid to people. Info-Prim Neo's interview with Alexandru Postica, the executive manager of Promo-Lex

[- How would you comment on the way the money from the humanitarian aid granted to the Transnistrian area is distributed by the Russian Federation?] - It is regrettable that the Russian authorities go on supporting the illegal regime from Moldova's Eastern area, installed through violence some 18 years ago. Again we shall remind the Moldovan society and the international community that through those gestures Russia actually holds the control over Moldova's Transnistrian area, influencing the events in this territory. Within this context, the Moldovan society ans the authorities are the ones which should insist on changing Russia's status of “a mediator”, “a peacemaker” of “a guarantor-state” it got immediately after the Moldovan-Russian war from 1992. The humanitarian aid, as well as organizing and holding an electoral poll in an area of Moldova, without the agreement and the coordination of actions with constitutional authorities, represents a severe deviation from the norms and the principles of the international right. Such situation cannot be qualified but as interference into the inner affairs of a state, however the Chisinau authorities tolerated the abuse. If to ignore the fact that the humanitarian aid directly granted to the Transnistrian area by the Russian Federation much overcomes the volume granted to the whole country, we can admit the idea of a noble goal, pursued by the Russian “mediator”. However one notices that the population in the area tolerate the situation and this is seen more and more often through numerous reactions. As an organization acting in the area, being permanently in contact with different people from different groups, we confirm the people's revolt, most of whom are afraid to show it publicly. [- What causes the locals' revolt?] - Furst, everybody knows what is going on in the Transnistrian area. Today the fields of farmers and localities from the whole area, to a great extent, are “leased” for 99 years (!!!) to some companies. Transnistria's inhabitants suppose that the humanitarian aid allegedly destined to the people is distributed actually to the same companies controlled by the regime. I do not exclude the fact that there could be a well-oiled scenario. First they gave the fields to those companies, credited from district budgets, and now they receive international humanitarian aid, especially from Russia. Thus the ordinary inhabitants from the area are purposely deprived of important estate (stocks in the big companies in the area, immovable or land), of legal protection and do not have elementary rights and freedoms. They were created some unbearable conditions and they have to leave the area… Or, this is exactly the goal of the ones having organized and maintaining the reprisal state in Moldova's East. [- Do you think Moldova has not perceived these perfidious methods of distributing the money?] - No doubt the distribution of the humanitarian aid in the region is totally non-transparent, and Moscow is aware of what is going on. I have reasons to believe that certain political-mafia groups from the Russian capital have acquiesced these dirty actions. And probably not without some personal benefits. But you should know that the people are aware of these ways in which the territory is controlled. We believe the question is about the conscientious getting rich on the account of some people having suffered from natural calamities, what in the long run is illegal. [- In the long run is there any public institution in Moldova or Russia entitled to check up the way of spending that money?] - The responsibility for monitoring such a process rests with the side having provided the humanitarian aid, first and foremost. They should check up whether that money has possibly been stolen. We shall remember that Russia “failed” before as well (either wanted or not) allocating public money to the Transnistrian area. Public statements were then made about the fraudulent character of spending the public money. But, as you see, nothing has happened. On the contrary, “the aid” comes on..., and this spares us of the need to suppose where the thief is. Moreover, some aid has been allocated from international sources lately, which is used by the local propaganda as “proofs” of being recognized by international bodies, or they launch the idea that the aid is from Russia or has been obtained with Russia's help. [- Are you saying there is a money-laundering scheme. Who do you believe is managing it and how?] - The Russian side is aware and accepts this way of distributing the humanitarian aid to some concrete companies. Now here come the names... Through the unilateral decision of Igor Smirnov, enormous fields were taken from ordinary citizens without any notice and later granted to some companies loyal with the breakaway regime. We notice that these companies have wide fields and now benefit of the Russian aid and credits, at very advantageous interest rates. As a consequence, the conclusion is a simple one: the Russian side finances some companies from the Transnistrian region and it is mistaken to say that Russia grants aid to the people from there. Thus we have one more proof that Moscow subsidizes the illegal regime in the Transnistrian area. [- How do you explain that three pro-Smirnov parties: the Patriotic Party, The Republic and Transnistria's People's Will expressed their disagreement with this situation and even proposed to revise the mechanism of distributing “the consignment” ?] - Let's not be naïve! The position of those three “political parties” is nothing but a political show, the goal of which is to show that those groupings allegedly care of the poverty of ordinary people, who sometimes have to vote them. If we believed that those so-called political parties sincerely opposed the fraudulent way of distributing the aid, then a natural question appears: Why did not they care of ordinary people when Smirnov decided to deprive them of fields? Those fields were simply confiscated, and the efforts to get them back are simply ignored in the area. If we admitted, by absurdity, that Moscow is not an accomplice in this affair... I assure you that in this case, after the signal launched by those three parties, Moscow's response as “donor” would have been extremely tough. Did you notice any reaction? Not me. [- What would Russia's interest be to tolerate those abuses?] - In fact, through those “aids” Russia has found a way to finance the illegal regime in Tiraspol, that it would like that we and the international community consider it a democratic one. The interest is to maintain the present situation by miming some reforms and positive developments.