The energy crisis in the Transnistrian region generated a fierce dispute between MPs of the ruling party and the opposition. In a TV show on the public television channel, PAS MP Radu Marian accused the Russian Federation of orchestrating the crisis in order to destabilize the situation on both banks of the Nistru River in the context of the autumn parliamentary elections. On the other hand, PSRM MP Adrian Albu said that this crisis was triggered by the incompetence of the Party of Action and Solidarity, IPN reports.
"Russia caused this crisis in the Transnistrian region because it did not comply with the terms of the gas supply contract that is valid until 2026," Radu Marian said in the program "Good evening" on Moldova 1.
According to the PAS MP, the Kremlin is trying to provoke discontent and destabilization throughout the country, with the ultimate goal of triggering a political crisis, overthrowing the democratically elected government and consolidating its military presence on the left bank of the Nistru so as to use the country in the war waged on Ukraine.
On the other hand, Socialist MP Adrian Albu insists that it is a crisis generated by the incompetence of those who are in power. "Indeed, there is a valid contract with Gazprom, but let's not forget that the first to violate the contractual clauses were those from the government," said Albu.
"If Tiraspol has found a solution, to buy gas through the agency of a company and this company is a player on the international market, and we are a country that is part of the Third Energy Package, it is the inacceptable for the government to come up with sharp statements," added the Socialist MP.
In the same program, the former Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Alexandru Flenchea warned about the serious economic consequences of the energy crisis.
"We see an energy crisis throughout the country, which is aggravated on the left bank of the Nistru. This crisis has a major impact on the national economy, which will have repercussions for every Moldovan and the impact is yet to be assessed," stressed Alexandru Flenchea.
On January 1, 2025, Gazprom suspended gas supplies to the Republic of Moldova. Thus, the inhabitants of the Transnistrian region, who were supplied with Russian gas by that moment, remained without heat and hot water. In order to save electricity, the supply of power is turned off for five hours a day. After the gas transit deal with Ukraine expired, Russia said it would continue to supply gas to the Republic of Moldova through alternative routes if an alleged historical debt of US$709 million, which Chisinau does not recognize, was paid off. The Moldovan authorities invoke the results of an international audit, which showed that the debt to Gazprom amounts to only US$8.6 million, and say that it has been paid almost in full.
