Transnistria Expects Moscow's Economic Aid, Defense in Event of Aggression, Lawmaker Says

© AFP 2023Lawmakers take part in a congress of deputies of Tiraspol in Transnistria
Lawmakers take part in a congress of deputies of Tiraspol in Transnistria - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 29.02.2024
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TIRASPOL (Sputnik) - On Wednesday, Transnistria turned to Russia for assistance in light of the economic blockade imposed by Moldova. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it prioritizes the protection of the region's residents' interests and is carefully considering all requests.
Tiraspol expects Moscow to protect Transnistria, also known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), in the event of an aggression and provide economic assistance, Andrei Safonov, a Transnistrian lawmaker and political scientist, told Sputnik.
"It must be confirmed that in the event of any conflict, which we are, of course, fighting against, Russia will defend Transnistria as its own territory. I would like to emphasize that such expectations are not directed against anyone else, against any third country. We are only talking about guaranteeing peace on the Dniester [river]," Safonov said.
The lawmaker said it is important now that Russia, as well as all other countries, continue to participate in the peacekeeping format, adding that this mechanism is the only guarantee for maintaining peace.
"Of course, we would like to receive some economic assistance from the Russian Federation within the framework of de facto allied relations. This is how I see it, given that we are under severe pressure. But, first of all, it is active participation, along with other participants of the '5+2' format, in preventing further economic pressure on us and in canceling the restrictive measures illegally imposed by Moldova," Safonov said.
Russian Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Alexander Lukashevich told Sputnik that the situation in the Transnistrian settlement is developing along a negative scenario, adding that Russia in Vienna "demands that the Maltese [OSCE] Chairmanship-in-Office pay special attention to this issue," given that "the OSCE field presence continues to operate in the region - on both banks of the Dniester."
Participants in a protest against economic pressure from Moldova in Transnistria and the introduction of new customs duties, on one of the streets in Tiraspol. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 28.02.2024
Transnistria Asks for Russia's Help Over Moldova's Economic Blockade
In 1992, Transnistria, 60% of whose population are Russians or Ukrainians, became a territory virtually outside the control of Moldova. Chisinau and Tiraspol have been trying to negotiate a political settlement through the 5+2 format involving Russia, Ukraine, and OSCE as mediators, as well as the European Union and the United States as observers. An international peacekeeping contingent, including Russian, Moldovan and Transnistrian troops, has been deployed to Transnistria. In 2022, Kiev suspended the activities of military observers in the peacekeeping in the republic and said it would no longer participate in the 5+2 format due to the conflict between two of its mediators.

Transnistria held a referendum in 2006 in which 96.62% of the population there voted in favor of joining Russia. However, no decision was made by Russia at that time on the results of the referendum.

Transnistria had sought to secede from Moldova even before the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was known then as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, formed in 1990 on the eastern periphery of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.
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