IRIA News

Lawmakers and politicians from Moldova’s breakaway and self-proclaimed independent region, Transnistria, have appealed to the Russian government to provide security and protection to withstand Moldovan “pressure”.

A resolution adopted by hundreds of Transnistrian politicians in Tiraspol, the region’s capital and largest city, has sought protection from Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing the economic pressure from Chisinau.

Although the plea falls short of explicitly requesting Moscow to assimilate Transnistria into Russia, it asks the Kremlin for protection for the large number of Russian citizens residing within the region. Recently, Russia has simplified the process for Moldovans to acquire Russian citizenship, resulting in an influx of Moldovan citizens from Transnistria to acquire Russian citizenship.

The region, long seen as the only Moscow-aligned region in Europe, held a “congress of deputies of all levels” to officially ask for Russia’s protection against Moldova. The dispute between Moldova and Transnistria began at the start of the year when Moldova, officially a candidate to join the EU, said that it would require Transnistrian companies to pay import duties to the central budget.

Transnistria is home to Moldova’s second-largest company, Sheriff, which owns a large network of petrol stations, supermarkets, a TV channel, a publishing house, a construction company, car dealerships, an advertising agency, as well as Moldova’s most successful the football club FC Sheriff Tiraspol.

Sherriff is the backbone of Transnistria’s trembling economy. If the Moldovan government increased its control over Sherriff it would automatically result in more control over the region.

Moldova is working to align its economic legislation with the EU as it pursues full membership in the bloc. But the new customs duties leveled on Transnistria have angered officials in the region, who say the measures harm residents and businesses.

Alexander Korshunov, chairman of the Transnistrian Supreme Council, said that Moldova was “taking advantage of the geopolitical situation” and using the economy “as a tool of pressure and blackmail.”

The escalations of tension between the Moldovan government and Transnistrian officials come at a time when concerns about regional security are already elevated due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Transnistria is a thin strip of territory located between the eastern bank of the Dniester River and borders the war-stricken Ukraine. Officially named the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, the region has its separate currency, and flag, and maintained autonomy from Moldova for three decades with support from Russia. The region has a population of about 470,000.

None of the United Nations member states, including Russia, recognize Transnistria as an independent state, however, Russia has more than a thousand troops stationed in the region since a brief war in 1992.

A statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry said “Protecting the interests of the residents of Transnistria, our compatriots, is one of the priorities. All requests are always carefully considered by the Russian relevant departments,”

The comments by the Russian Foreign Minister sparked several speculations about a possible annexation of the region by Russian forces. Several analysts believe that Moscow would lay ground for a possible annexation based on the rising tensions between the Transnistrian administration and the Moldovan government.

Putin justified Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and military operations in Donetsk and Luhansk as an effort to protect Russian-speaking citizens in eastern Ukraine, whom he alleged were under threat from Kyiv.

Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller commented on the issue stating that the United States is “watching Russia’s actions in Transnistria and the broader situation there very closely.”