In a forum staged recently by the separatist Transnistrian administration, head of the local cabinet Alexandru Martynov raised the issue of the legal status of the farmland situated in the Transnistrian region. He said time came for the farmland to be included in civil circuit and to start the “privatization” of farmland that is now publicly owned, IPN reports, quoting a press release of Promo-LEX association.
If the discussions and intentions to “privatize” the land materialize, the 266,000 ha of farmland will be distributed to hundreds or thousands of beneficiaries and Moldova risks remaining without this, said the experts.
Promo-LEX notes that the announcement of Martynov, who earlier headed the economic department of the sports club “Sheriff”, should worry the Moldovan constitutional authorities even if the Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselski supports the necessity of keeping the public ownership status of the Transnistrian farmland.
“Following the recent rumors about the “privatization” of farmland, preconditions for new meetings between high-rankings officials appear as the problems related to this issue are too complex to be neglected. Despite the secessionist administration’s statements that economic growth will be ensued by the privatization of land, the pursued goal is to enrich further particular landowners in the region,” says the press release.
In this connection, Promo-LEX notes the Moldovan authorities should prepare a clear “privatization” plan of action coordinated at the local and international levels as it won’t be correct for the process not to include people of good faith. Also, the Republic of Moldova, in virtue of the constitutional provisions on the inalienability of land, should not allow transactions involving the land ownership right and should think how to discourage any uncoordinated and unauthorized investment in the region or the investors should face the possible risks.
Given that the constitutional authorities of the Republic of Moldova cannot effectively control the territory on the left side of the Nistru, Promo-LEX says the environment in the region favors the appearance of complex problems, including the impossibility of ensuring the observance of human rights.
