The war in Ukraine is a suitable moment for the Republic of Moldova to work out a very clear Transnistrian conflict settlement plan, said the president of the Party of Change Ștefan Gligor. For his part, ex-MP Iurie Reniță noted the Moldovan authorities should come with a message for the Moldovans who hold Russian nationally and make it clear that the participation in military operations is punished in accordance with the Penal Code, IPN reports.
Ștefan Gligor said the Republic of Moldova can now settle the Transnistrian conflict as President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Ukraine is ready to help the Republic of Moldova regain its territorial integrity if an official approach to this effect is made by the Moldovan constitutional authorities.
“The Republic of Moldova by now didn’t say it clearly what its plans for the Transnistrian region are. The authorities’ excuse is that we have a war in Ukraine but we owe our freedom and sovereignty to the Ukrainian army. Ukraine has to keep three motorized brigades at the border with the Transnistrian region, from 12,000 to 16,000 people with armored vehicles. Instead, what the Republic of Moldova says it’s that we need stability and cheap electrical energy. Ukraine noted that it does not want to be an aggressor state and to enter the Transnistrian region to drive away the 14th army and an official statement is needed to call on it restore the constitutional order on the left side of the Nistru,” Ștefan Gligor stated in the program “Shadow Cabinet” on JurnalTV channel.
Former MP Iurie Reniță said there are risks that the Moldova citizens from the Transnistrian region who have Russian nationality as well will be engaged in military actions following Vladimir Putin’s announcement of partial mobilization.
“The Russian citizens from the Transnistria region are also the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. Many of them are also citizens of Ukraine and the current separatist leaders are among these. What is the message transmitted by political factors from Chisinau to these persons? Do they clearly say that if they enroll in battle as citizens of the Republic of Moldova they will be punished?” asked Moldova’s ex-ambassador to Romania Iurie Reniță.
“For now, there is no mobilization in the Transnistria region. We have illegal troops with 1,500-1,700 soldiers in the Transnistria region. Many of these are citizens of the Transnistria region. They are engaged in internal rotation. Furthermore, there is the phenomenon of migration. Since the start of the war, 600 persons have officially moved to the Transnistria region. The level of anxiety in the region is now high and I don’t think there is great wish to become involved in fighting,” said the IPRE director Iulian Groza.
Two days ago, the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Russia announced that the Moldovan citizens who will become involved in military operations on the territory of other states are liable to criminal punishment. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, the mercenary’s participation in an armed conflict, military actions or other violent actions in Moldova is punished with five to ten years in jail.
