Moldovan authorities must immediately deal with Corjova as it will be too late in elections, Promo-Lex

The head of Promo-Lex Association Ion Manole said a number of scenarios aimed at appropriating power may be used by the unconstitutional Transnistrian authorities in Corjova on June 5, when local elections will take place. Therefore, the official Chisinau should immediately take steps as it will be too late in the elections, Ion Manole said in a discussion with Info-Prim Neo's reporter. Boycotting of the elections is one of the possible scenarios. The Transnistrian administration consider Corjova a suburb of Dubasari town and has laid claim to it since 1992. Also, Tiraspol may let things develop as they should, but will field a candidate loyal to the Transnistrian authorities and will help him/her win the elections, Ion Manole said. Blackmailing is the third possible scenario, which has been used for a long time. Tiraspol will not cede the nine settlements that are under the control of the Moldovan constitutional authorities. It has a very efficient instrument for this – a better socioeconomic package than the one provided on the right bank of the Nistru. Owing to the political situation and the support offered by Russia, the price of gas, electricity and other utilities in the region are much lower than on the right bank of the river. Tiraspol may threaten the residents of Corjova that if they take part in elections, they will have to pay the same charges as in Chisinau. Many inhabitants of Corjova work in Dubasari. They are threatened with dismissal. According to Ion Manole, until now the Transnistrian authorities could not effectively take Corjova under control because the local public administration was elected in a democratic way by the population. “This fact is very important and Chisinau should not ignore it. The Moldovan authorities should take measures to ensure democratic elections in Corjova. They must not wait for the election day as incidents will happen again,” he stated. The head of Promo-Lex believes that it is now the right moment for Chisinau to insist on ensuring the voting rights of the Transnistrians. Discussions with representatives of Tiraspol will take place in Vienna on April 4-5. “If they do not do it now, it will be too late in June or at the end of May. Chisinau must grantee the rights of all the Moldovans. If this is not possible in the settlements controlled by the Transnistrian administration, it must ensure the rights at least in the settlements controlled by it and in the Security Zone,” said Ion Manole, stressing that the issue should be discussed at consultations in the 5+2 format and that Chisinau should use all the available political and diplomatic instruments.