Any company that is suspected of fueling the fighting capabilities of the service members on the left side of the Nistru should be excluded from the legal registers of the Republic of Moldova, said ex-ambassador Igor Munteanu. According to him, Chisinau should make sure that the military forces in the separatist region do not build their capacities in connection with the war in Ukraine. The Transnistrian region is dependent on the right bank of the Nistru and this dependence can be used for the constitutional authorities’ benefit, IPN reports.
Moldova’s former ambassador to the U.S. said Russian officials’ statements about the protection of the rights of the Russian speakers in the Republic of Moldova are an attempt to threaten Chisinau. The constitutional authorities can play the Transnistrian trump card much more ably given that the region does not have a direct border with Russia and the most important part of its exports is oriented to the European market.
“As regards the Republic of Moldova, allusions were made to induce the idea that the Transnistrian region is Russian land and this will also ways benefit from support. But the Transnistrian region is an enclave that depends a lot on the ties that are controlled by Chisinau and Ukraine. At commercial level, the exports to the European Union depend on Chisinau. Moldovagaz’s supplies of natural gas also depend on Chisinau even if this company is a subsidiary of Gazprom. This instrument can be used to reduce the appetite of the Transnistrian leaders,” Igor Munteanu stated in the program “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel.
The ex-Ambassador suggested that the constitutional authorities should not allow the military on the left side of the Nistru to be financed by legalizing companies that logistically supply the army.
“The official Chisinau should reduce any direct or collateral financing for the military contingent on the left side of the Nistru. Any company that is even suspected of supplying war or civilian material for the army should be excluded from any kind of legal registers of the Republic of Moldova. I refer to companies that supply food products, clothing or fuel. When there are suspicions that the fighting capabilities are fueled by such transactions, the companies should be struck off the legal registers of the Republic of Moldova. Without such legalization, they cannot trade with the European Union,” stated Igor Munteanu.
Recently, the Commission for Exceptional Situations decided to extend the environmental permit for the Rybnitsa steel works until August 31. According to official data, the plant is one of the largest payers of taxes and duties and it this way secures a part of the budget of the Transnistrian region. The Russian troops stay illegally in Moldova’s Transnistrian region, contrary to the wish of the constitutional authorities.
