The real solution to the Transnistrian conflict is not in the “revolutionary” statements made from the UN rostrum, behind which there are evident foreign interests, but in the methodical activity within the negotiation process in the 5 + 2 format, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Grigory Karasin said in an interview that was published by the Transnistrian press, to which IPN makes reference. “This mechanism that is recognized at international level is the platform based on which a viable solution should be identified to the Transnistrian conflict. I do not really understand why the representatives of the OSCE delay this process,” said the Russian official.

Grigory Karasin noted that Russia wants a political solution to the conflict and does not want this to become an objective of geopolitical games that have very unpredictable consequences. “All the arguments in favor of changing the current format of the peacekeeping mission and the pullout of the Russian troops from the left side of the Nistru are detached from the reality and fully ignore the opinion of the inhabitants of Transnistria, who see in this mission a guarantee for peaceful living,” he stated.

The Russian deputy minister also said that those who promote the pullout of the Russian military forces from Transnistria have a very short historical memory as namely the Russian military helped end the bloodshed in 1992. One of the documents that Moldova signed in 1992 envisions the presence of six Russian battalions in the region, one of which is in reserve, and of an escadrille and communications groups. However, the Russian side didn’t fill this quota so far.

Grigory Karasin added that the process of withdrawing the Russian armament is rather difficult and it was interrupted not because of Russia’s fault. The pullout should have been accepted and supported first of all by the Transnistrians. Chisinau has to give its consent, but the permission of Ukraine is also needed. The issue is thus more complicated than it seems.