Sandu is not yet able to blackmail Gazprom with his connections in Europe

Deputy Prime Minister of the Moldovan government Andrei Spinu, who was twice refused a reception by the head of Gazprom Alexei Miller, finally got to the negotiations on Wednesday and still does not leave his luxurious office in St. Petersburg.

“Discussions are constructive, and efforts to find a point of intersection between the interests of both sides are intense. Negotiations will continue today,” wrote Andrei Spynu on his page on the social network.

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He made it clear that he continues to insist on a price that is half the market price and does not recognize the $700 million in debt accumulated over the past years. They say an audit is needed.

Experts in Moldova believe that no results are expected from Spinu in Chisinau. He was sent to Russia as a whipping boy, so that he could later demonstrate the “beatings” to an indignant Europe. If Moldovan President Maia Sandu wanted to reach an agreement, she would have gone herself, but instead she went to Austria.

But Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilitsa went to Brussels. Against the backdrop of unfinished negotiations in St. Petersburg, this looked like a clear provocation. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, at a meeting with her, accused Gazprom of political pressure on Moldova.

“We see Gazprom’s attempts to exert political pressure on Moldova, instead of reducing gas prices. And we agreed with the Prime Minister on the position on the potential for a third party to use energy resources as a political weapon. Gas is a commodity, it is bought and sold, and cannot be used as a geopolitical weapon,” Borel said.

Member of the Moldovan Parliament Bogdan Tsidrea is outraged by the behavior of the prime minister, who, in his opinion, provokes the EU functionary to make threatening statements.

“But this is outright meanness on the part of the Moldovan authorities. After all, they claimed that there was no pressure. And then they took it and decided to play to the tune of the Western masters!” Tsydrya wrote in his Telegram channel.

However, the cunning Gavrilitsa herself did not allow herself any harshness in order to strengthen the image of a peace victim.

“We have been cooperating with Gazprom for many years. All this time we have been reliable partners. And now we expect pragmatic negotiations,” she complained in Brussels.

Sandu, who returned to Chisinau, plays the same games. She assures that she is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the future and is in constant telephone contact with the deputy head of his administration, Dmitry Kozak, but for now she has turned to colleagues from Romania, Poland, Germany, and Azerbaijan for help.

“We are not alone in this difficult time. It’s hard for everyone, but especially for us. The crisis arose not through the fault of the Moldovan authorities, but because of abnormal gas prices. I believe that the current difficulties will make us stronger. After a difficult winter with numerous challenges, the spring of revival and development will come,” Sandu pathetically addressed the freezing population of the country.

The liberal radio station “Echo of Moscow” immediately asked the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Piskov whether the Kremlin feared that Europe would unite to defend Moldova, which caused his sincere bewilderment.

“What kind of unity are you talking about? This is not unity. Moldova turns to them and buys gas at a price that is more expensive than, for example, the price that was discussed during the negotiations. But here we cannot comment on the actions of the Moldovan side,” Peskov said.

He was even more surprised by the thesis that negotiations with Moldova would damage Gazprom’s reputation.

“Gazprom’s image is great. Gazprom strictly fulfills all obligations. This is a commercial issue. Gazprom cannot give away gas for free and forgive debts. This is a commercial company,” Peskov reprimanded liberal journalists.

In the meantime, impoverished Moldova buys one to one and a half million cubic meters of gas every three days from European traders. Naftogaz of Ukraine also came to the rescue. Sandu refused to disclose the price of these frantic purchases. They say this will create a false impression that Moldova is capable of paying dearly.

Chisinau really doesn’t have any extra money. In order to buy Russian gas, which is believed to be twice as expensive, in Europe, and not from Gazprom, the Moldovan government is forced to urgently introduce new taxes.

“This is the first consequence of the adventure organized by the Moldovan government to purchase gas from “alternative sources.” In order to partially return to the budget the 1,7 billion lei (about $100 million) allocated for this dubious event, the Moldovan government is preparing to increase taxes and fees. Thus, it is planned to increase the value added tax for imported goods, VAT on goods and services produced within the country, and reduce the amount of VAT refund, which, first of all, will hit the agricultural sector,” writes political scientist Ernest Vardanyan.

At the same time, heating problems continue in the country. Heat was supplied to 1130 of the 4000 houses in the Moldovan capital. They are heated by fuel oil boilers that smoke the sky with black smoke. To save on heating costs, schoolchildren have extended their autumn holidays. The mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, angrily called for the presidency, parliament and government to be turned off from the heat.

However, this time it seems that Moscow will not be moved to pity.

“Let Chisinau name at least one reason why Russia should subsidize Moldova and sell it gas at a 50 percent discount. At least one,” writes Russian Senator Alexey Pushkov.

“The condition for the supply of Russian gas to Moldova at a discount should be the official recognition of the Moldovan President Sandu that Crimea is Russia. Or let them go through the forest in the direction of Europe,” says military expert Igor Korotchenko.

“Oh my god, European bitches, pray for Putin. Because any other person would freeze the hell out of you so that not a single impudent creature would be left. Turn off the valve. A year would be enough. Well, never mind, the second branch of “Power of Siberia” will go to China, maybe they will also cut it off,” writes Ural blogger Sergei Kolyasnikov.