Independence or accession to the Russian Federation?
Transnistria has decided to seek independence and then join Russia, Vitaly Ignatiev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the unrecognized republic, announced on Friday (July 22nd). He noted that Tiraspol has adhered to these tasks since the emergence of the Pridnestrovian Republic of Moldova (PMR).
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters he did not know what Ignatiev’s statements about his plans to become part of Russia were connected with. “To be honest, I’ve seen media reports but I don’t know what it’s connected with, I don’t know what processes, so I can’t say anything,” Peskov said.
After a while, Ignatiev corrected his own statement, stating that Pridnestrovie’s primary goal was, above all, independence.
“The subsequent accession to Russia is a process that requires important decisions, political preparation and much more. The main priority is independence.
The people of Transnistria want it, but how will it be in reality, and whether it be Russia, the Russian people will want it. We will work in this direction, ”explained Ignatiev.
Meanwhile, at the Federation Council, he enthusiastically received the news about the PMR’s plans to become part of Russia. According to Senator Sergei Tsekov, the fate of Pridnestrovie is closely connected with the course of the Russian special operation in Ukraine.
“For this [вхождение в состав РФ] It was possible that Russia did not stop the NWO to reach the borders of the Pridnestrovian Republic of Moldova. And for this you need to go through Nikolaev, Odessa. If this happens, the entry of the PMR into the Russian Federation will be natural. If you ask the citizens of Transnistria, the vast majority will say yes to reunification with Russia,” explained a member of the Federation Council.
moment of truth
The statements of the Pridnestrovian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the desire for independence and joining the Russian Federation were made against the backdrop of a new wave of tensions in the region.
First, the PMR State Department accused the United States of making “non-transparent” deliveries of deadly weapons to Moldova. Soon it became known that Russian peacekeepers were repeatedly detained at the airport in Chisinau, which went to Transnistria for rotation. In addition, the Russian Ministry of Defense noted that Moldova in every possible way hinders the supply of domestic military equipment to the Russian contingent in the PMR.
Daniel Voda, the press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, also hastened to reassure the public that the authorities did not interfere with the rotation of the RF Armed Forces.
Andrey Safonov, deputy PMR Supreme Council, admits that the statements about independence and accession to the Russian Federation are primarily due to the unfriendly statements of Moldova.
“It seems to me that the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was made in connection with the more hostile statements of politicians from Chisinau. Russia, as before, is seen by us as the guarantor of security. However, accession must be made before Transnistria independence, otherwise it will be problematic to talk about integration from a legal point of view.”
Safonov told socialbites.ca.
According to the deputy, Pridnestrovie’s desire to gain independence is also due to the constant deterioration of relations between Tiraspol and Chisinau, especially on the trade and economic plane.
“I think this statement was made to prevent bad events from occurring. Despite Tiraspol’s diplomatic efforts, the economic blockade continues. Certificates for the work of leading enterprises are issued for a very short time. Medicine trucks are not allowed in Pridnestrovie. Only one arrived recently, the rest are vacant at customs. You can’t call it good neighborly relations,” Safonov explained.
escalation risk
From the very beginning of the Russian special operation on the territory of Ukraine, a tense situation began to form around Pridnestrovie. On the one hand, Transnistria was seen as an additional springboard for an offensive against Ukraine. On the other hand, local authorities themselves regularly face various obstacles in the form of explosions and damage to infrastructure.
Against this background, PMR Foreign Minister Ignatiev said the day before that a possible withdrawal of Moldova from the 1992 agreement on principles for the peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in Transnistria could lead to military action.
However, when a peacekeeping mission operates in Transnistria, residents can count on maintaining security in the area. Oleg Belyakov, the representative of the Pridnestrovian Republic of Moldova (PMR) in the Joint Control Commission (JCC), informed socialbites.ca, co-chairman of the GCC.
“As long as it is a peacekeeping operation format and both Pridnestrovie residents and Moldovan citizens are on the same side, we will [ПМР] nothing threatens. The GCC has proven effective in maintaining peace and security.
Currently, residents of Transnistria feel protected from acts of violence and aggression. “There is an element of military security where the military can stop any aggression,” he said.
As for the Moldovan contingent, which is part of the Transnistrian peacekeeping forces, Belyakov is confident that if the regions become part of the Russian Federation, his services will most likely no longer be needed.
“This will be another peacekeeping mission. Under previous agreements, Moldova and I were designated as conflicting parties. Russia as a guarantor united the two sides to fulfill common functional tasks. If we act with Russia as a whole – within the framework of a single state – then a certain partnership with Moldova will not be so necessary. “We will be able to carry out security duties together with the Russian Federation,” he said.
The co-chairman of the GCC also noted that Russian peacekeepers will not leave the PMR region even if they join Russia.
“Historically, Russian troops have always been on the territory of Transnistria. If it turns out that the PMR is recognized by the Russian Federation, Russian troops will continue to be required for the joint performance of security missions, ”Belyakov explained.
hope for russia
Russian politicians interpreted the statements of the Pridnestrovian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in different ways. Andrei Klihas, Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation of the Federation Council, attributed the words of the diplomat to the flight of people from the countries of the “European election”. Deputy Konstantin Zatulin coincided the declaration of independence with the 30th anniversary of Russia’s peacekeeping operation in the Dniester, and also criticized the Russian Foreign Ministry for its caution in issuing Russian passports to residents of Transnistria.
According to Sergei Tsekov, the mentality of the inhabitants of Pridnestrovie plays an important role in these processes.
GCC co-chairman Sergey Belyakov expressed hope that Russia is ready to support the Transnistrian authorities’ aspirations for independence.
In principle, I expect Russia to be ready. [к присоединению]. Transnistria has never separated itself from Russia. For many years, we have shared Russia’s wishes in every field – in politics and in life. We hope that in Russia they will react quite positively to this, ”said the official.
And as Russian and Pridnestrovian politicians contemplated the fate of the PMR, the Ukrainian side took its place in the rhetoric. Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexei Goncharenko threatened the residents of Pridnestrovie to erect a monument to Stepan Bandera in Tiraspol.
“Sit there quietly,” said Goncharenko.