Vardanyan’s pardoning can be a signal that official talks in 5+2 format will be resumed, Victor Osipov

The pardoning of journalist Ernest Vardanyan can represent a signal that the official Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format will be resumed. During the next informal negotiations that will take place in Moscow in June, this hypothesis can be verified, former Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Victor Osipov has told Info-Prim Neo. According to Victor Osipov, the main discussions on the two cases, of Ernest Vardanyan and Ilie Cazac, were practically concluded last yearend. “Judging by indirect information from the left bank of the Nistru, we expected that the journalist would be pardoned then. The matter was somehow related to the OSCE Summit in Astana. But it did not happen,” said Chisinau’s ex-representative at the negotiations. Victor Osipov stressed that the significance of this act will become clearer over time. “We are glad that the journalist was set free. But by this gesture Igor Smirnov showed again that he can use the powers of a head of state, including the possibility of pardoning a convict. This is typical of the Transnistrian authorities,” he said. He also said that this case does not change the existing appraisals of the essence of the two cases, which are considered as unfounded by the Moldovan authorities, as well as the assessment of the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. Ernest Vardanyan was pardoned by a decree issued by the Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov. Last December, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for state treason and espionage for Moldova.