Ion Tabarta, deputy head of the Institute of Strategic Research and Political Consultancy “Politicon”, considers the crisis in the Transnistrian region is now harsher than ever. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, the analyst said now that the Transnistrian region is experiencing such a serious crisis, Moldova should try and make very skillful maneuvers here, IPN reports.

“It’s hard to remember when the Transnistrian region had been in a similar situation. We know very well the format, essence of the Transnistrian economy and know how much the Kremlin’s cash injections counted there. I refer to the bonuses to salaries and pensions. We know how important was the contraband smuggled through Transnistria and the Odessa port for the region’s incomes. Now that Moscow cannot maintain financially the Transnistrian region, while Ukraine does not allow contraband to cross its territory, the economic situation of the region has worsened significantly,” stated Ion Tabarta.

He also said that the Moldovan authorities should take into account those decisions by Kiev that help Chisinau, but should not pursue the policies adopted by Kiev. “We must adjust our positions on the Transnistrian issue in our relations with Russia. But we must also have a very clear scenario so as to help Transnistria cope with the economic crisis, on particular political conditions,” said the deputy head of “Politicon”.

The analyst also said that the Transnistrian region is now in a very difficult situation and if the authorities of the region, with Moscow’s permission, do not take steps towards Chisinau, provocations by Russia are not excluded, aimed at breaking the region’s ’isolation’, as Moscow describes the current situation.