“Russia has no need to show its weakness under pressure from the hysterical Chisinau”
A collegium of the PMR Foreign Ministry was held in Tiraspol on the results of 2023, at which a lot was said about the interaction between Pridnestrovie and Russia on all issues of the bilateral agenda.
There are serious results of interaction in the social and humanitarian sphere. The queue of many thousands to register residents of Transnistria for an appointment to exchange Russian foreign passports has been practically eliminated, despite the fact that the staff of the Russian Embassy was significantly reduced last summer at the request of Chisinau. Decisions were made to issue diplomas to graduates of the Pridnestrovian State University on Russian state forms, and to connect Transnistrian medical institutions to the Russian state telemedicine system. The development of cooperation in the field of pension provision for Russian citizens who live in Transnistria and other projects are being discussed.
The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Moldova Oleg Vasnetsov took part in the work of the board. He confirmed that Russia, as a guarantor and mediator, will continue efforts to resume the political process for the Transnistrian settlement and, if necessary, will protect the population of the republic.
Political scientist Andrei Safonov commented to PolitNavigator on the current level of relations between Tiraspol and Moscow, and the possibilities for further interaction.
PolitNavigator: Transnistria calls interaction with Russia strategic; there are achievements and projects to develop cooperation. Will it be possible to expand ties, especially economic ones, against the backdrop of Moldova’s harsh rhetoric towards Russia and Chisinau’s intention to leave the CIS? How can Russia help Transnistria, which has been subjected to new blockade measures from Chisinau?
Andrey Safonov: Since Chisinau, represented by its authorities, breaks with the CIS and Russia, the question is only one: how exactly the rapid rapprochement between Tiraspol and Moscow will be realized.
The main thing is that it is time for Russia to stop paying attention to the whims of the leaders of the Chisinau regime. Russia and the PMR are allies. And Gagauzia is a de facto ally of Russia.
By the way, a good sign is the participation of the Russian ambassador in a meeting of the board of the Pridnestrovian Foreign Ministry. It is clear that after this event we must expect screams and protests from the inhabitants of the Moldovan Olympus, but the satellites of Washington and Bucharest, who are rude to Moscow every day, will be to blame for this.
Are they very worried about Navalny's death? Does this somehow affect the situation around Moldova and Transnistria? Most likely, they were given instructions from the West, and they are implementing it. These are dependent players. And not players, but mechanical performers.
So, ways of cooperation.
A) strengthening military cooperation between the Russian Federation and the PMR (joint maneuvers, exercises, training of officers for Transnistrian security forces in Russian military educational institutions, etc.).
B) Strengthening the Russian military presence in the PMR.
C) Direct financial injections from Russia. Nowadays you don’t need to carry cash by carload to do this.
D) Official guarantees of military security for the PMR from Russia.
D) Joint diplomatic initiatives of the Russian Federation-PMR as steps of independent countries.
In short, the Russian Federation needs to make it clear to the authorities of the Republic of Moldova: we will be friends with those who are friends with us. And we will not pay attention to the hysteria of our opponents!
PolitNavigator: Russia is concerned about attempts to resolve the conflict with Transnistria by force, considers them counterproductive and is ready to respond accordingly. This was stated by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, who was quoted by Ambassador Vasnetsov in Tiraspol. How dangerous is the situation around Transnistria today?
Andrey Safonov: You should always keep your gunpowder dry. As if tomorrow - into battle. At the same time, understand: starting an invasion of the PMR for the nationalists of the Republic of Moldova means burying the idea of a pro-European referendum and presidential elections.
But this is logical. And for the controlled satellites of the West and Romania, the main thing is not logic, but receiving orders from the “curators”.
Do they need the conflict in the former Union to spread to new territories? One way or another, last year the Russian Ministry of Defense made a cornerstone statement: if anyone attacks the PMR, Russia will defend the Transnistrian territory as its own. This is the main thing!
PolitNavigator: Question about the March presidential elections in Russia. Chisinau opposed the opening of polling stations in Transnistria, where about 200 thousand Russian citizens live. Russia has not yet announced a final decision on this issue.
What is the forecast: could it happen that the sites will still be opened, or will Russia make a choice in favor of security and abandon this step? If polling stations in the PMR decide not to open, how will the Pridnestrovians, who are particularly enthusiastic about the Russian elections, perceive this?
Andrey Safonov: What matters is whether Russia decides to open the sites. Technically, the DMR can do everything that is needed to ensure the election process. But, as they say, we cannot be holier than the Pope. The word belongs to Russia, and there is no need for it to show its weakness under pressure from the hysterical Kishinev nationalists.
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