Russia will have to defend its citizens in Transnistria: Nezavisimaya Gazeta

“If the situation is not getting any better in the near future in terms of settling the conflict in Transnistria, in Russia has assumed the role of main mediator, President Dmitry Medvedev will probably have to keep his promise to defend, in case if need, the Russian citizens living there,” writes Muscovite news paper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. “Anti-Russian actions organized by extreme-right parties have gone on in Moldova since last Sunday. They are accompanied by confrontations between pro-Romanian Moldovan nationalists and Russian-speaking citizens.” The situation now is especially alarming because it reminds of the late 80s, beginning of 90s. Even the slogans are the same: “the Romanians” are suggested to go over the Prut, and “the Russians” -- over the Nistru, the newspaper writes. “In 1992, Russia had to introduce a peace-keeping contingent in the conflict area to end the military confrontation. Now the Moldovan nationalists ask for its being withdrawn.” “In these conditions, it is impossible to count on the resumption of the talks between Chisinau and Tiraspol, even though Moscow overtly guarantees their resumption recently: the Transnistrian leader have always put up as a strong argument a possible alliance between Chisinau and Bucharest,” the article reads. Regardless of what the development of the events will be, Russia will be held guilty: either for neglecting what's going on in Moldova now, or for making efforts to defend the Russian citizens living there. Reacting to provocations, Moscow loses its reputation of a mediator, of a peace-maker. Not reacting, Russia loses its reputation of a country concerned with its citizens,” writes the Russian publication “Nezavisimaya gazeta”, quoted by Info-Prim Neo.