The narrative actively promoted by the Transnistrian and Russian media claims that Russia has decided to cut off gas supplies to the Transnistrian region because of Moldova, which is said to have accumulated millions of dollars in debt to "Gazprom." IPN explains why these narratives are misleading.
Response
The Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova receives gas from Gazprom without paying for it, with the debts being attributed to Moldova. This situation has persisted for decades, and Moldova has no control over how the gas is distributed in the region.
According to the authorities in Chișinău, the debts attributed to Moldova also include the gas consumed by Transnistria, which undermines the claim that Moldova is solely responsible for these millions of dollars in debt.
Moreover, an independent audit revealed that Chișinău's real debt is approximately $8 million, not over $700 million as Moscow claims. Between 2012 and 2023, Tiraspol benefited from $11 billion worth of gas without making any payments to Moldovagaz, the company that supplies gas under a contract with Gazprom.
Gazprom, Russia's state-owned company, has historically used gas supplies as a tool of political pressure in Moldova. Claims about Moldova's "debts" are often exaggerated or used as a pretext to influence Moldova's domestic and foreign policy.
International observers have noted that Russia frequently manipulates gas supplies and debt-related narratives to maintain its influence over Moldova and its separatist regions. The so-called "debt crisis" is part of a broader strategy to undermine Moldova's sovereignty and its efforts toward European integration.
Conclusion
The claim that Russia has cut off gas supplies to Transnistria due to Moldova's debts is misleading. It ignores the longstanding "arrangement" by which Transnistria receives unpaid gas directly from Gazprom. This narrative is part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at blaming Moldova for a situation largely created by Russia, with the goal of maintaining influence over the region.
