Tiraspol has always been used as an instrument to press the constitutional authorities in Chisinau to carry out the policy that the Kremlin wants. That is why, for 30 years, the Russian Federation has channeled the appropriate resources into the Transnistrian region so that, at the right time, Tiraspol will execute any order coming from the Kremlin. But it turned out that not always, especially in the case of the current administration, the instructions coming from Moscow are fully executed. This is one of the reasons why Moscow's plan related to the energy crisis failed, political scientist Gennady Ciorba, former head of the communication, information and media service of the Transnistrian region, currently a human rights activist, stated in a public debate hosted by IPN News Agency.
Gennady Ciorba believes that Tiraspol was to be used as an instrument to provoke destabilization on the right bank of the Nistru. Moscow knew very well, two years beforehand, that Ukraine will no longer allow Russian gas to transit its territory after January 1, 2025. However, it did not take any measures to ensure the delivery of natural gas to the Transnistrian region. But they planned that the Cuciurgan - MGRES Power Plant will be able to operate for a period of time based on the available coal stocks, and electricity for the right bank will no longer be produced. As a result, a collapse was to be generated on the right bank.
The political scientist said that Tiraspol was going to be used as a detonator of the explosion on the right bank, but, fortunately, this was avoided due to the European Union, which offered support. Moscow's goal was to dictate the rules to Chisinau through energy blackmail, namely in exchange for the resumption of gas supplies to the left bank. According to him, the plan failed and the question is what next because Moscow was not ready for such a scenario and will develop new ones, but with the same goals.
Respectively, said Ghenady Ciorba, the stake was one, but the ultimate result was different and, as a result, Moscow's strategic plan regarding the Republic of Moldova was thwarted. Even so, the Transnistrian region continues to be seen as an instrument for destabilizing the situation in the Republic of Moldova, already at a tactical level and not strategically. Parliamentary elections will take place in Moldova this year and Moscow has not given up its desire to influence and form in Chisinau a government that suits it and is loyal to it.
The public debate entitled "Energy crisis in the "Bermuda Triangle". Episode 2: Tiraspol's position" was held as part of the project "IPN News Agency for Social Cohesion and a Pro-European Moldova", funded by IMS.
