The commercial relations between the Republic of Moldova and Russia reached deadlock in August 2014, after the official Chisinau signed the Association Agreement with the EU. Shortly afterward, Moscow imposed customs duties on Moldovan products and later the bans came one after another. The supplies of fruit and vegetables to the Russian Federation depend on political decisions, while the promises to restore exports are only rhetoric, said expert of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “IDIS” Ion Tabrata, IPN reports.

In the program “15 Minutes of Economic Realism” produced by “Viitorul” in partnership with Radio Free Europe, Ion Tabarta said President Igor Dodon repeatedly said that he will solve the problem of fruit and vegetable exports to Russia and he met with Russian Premier Dmitry Medvedev and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin to discuss the issue, but all in vain.

“The keeping of the bans shows that President Igor Dodon does not deliver the promises he made during the election campaign, when he said that the restrictions will be removed immediately after he becomes Head of State. Moreover, Dodon said the working conditions of Moldovans in Russia will be simplified, but their situation remained unchanged. Settling the Transnistrian conflict was the President’s long-term promise that is yet unfulfilled,” stated Tabarta.

According to him, whenever he has the occasion Dodon says the Republic of Moldova increased exports to Russia, but statistics show the opposite. These represent less than 20% and the EU remains the main commercial partner of Moldova, with a share of 63.4% of the exports in the first half of this year.

“The logic of Igor Dodon’s assertions matches the geopolitical mission of the Russian Federation, which he pursues in the Republic of Moldova and which forms part of the political scenario to restore Moscow’s influence in the ex-Soviet area, with Transnistria playing an important role in this regard,” stated the expert.