Transnistria's de facto leader Evgeny Shevchuk has signed a decree requiring all the vehicles with foreign registration entering the region to get Transnistrian insurance.

However, Moldova's Reintegration Bureau head George Balan told IPN the so-called decree hasn't been discussed within any existing platforms for dialogue, including the joint working group for transport matters, which met last time on December 30.

Under the decree, Transnistrian insurance for foreign vehicles will become mandatory starting March 1. The procedure of applying its provisions is to be established within one month.

George Balan described the decree an unilateral decision that will make the situation worse for people on both banks of the Nistru river. “This is an additional and uncoordinated barrier that does not help bringing the two banks closer together”, said George Balan, adding that the Reintegration Bureau will request Tiraspol to scrap the decision. The issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the working group for transport matters, whose date is yet to be fixed.