Transnistrian Conflict on October 1–31, 2008

Tries to organise a meeting between President Vladimir Voronin and Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov failed in October like in September. However, Transnistrian officials have assured that Tiraspol is interested in the Voronin-Smirnov meeting so far. On the other hand, they categorically disagreed with the rhetoric of Chisinau and pejorative remarks against the Transnistrian regime, which President Voronin has blamed for having “usurped the authority in the region.”

While visiting Moldova on October 27–28, 2008, the chairman of the Russian State Duma, Mr. Boris Grizlov has confirmed previous statements by Russian dignitaries that his country “is ready to do its best for a peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.” At the same time, Mr. Grizlov stressed that “extreme measures are inadequate” for the conflict resolution. Following Grizlov’s visit to Chisinau, Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov delivered an unexpected statement on October 30, saying that “Russia cannot afford recognising the independence of Transnistria for the time being, as such a step would destabilise the equilibrium of forces in the region.” In this context, Transnistrian speaker Evgheny Shevchyuk has stated that Transnistria would accept a confederation with the Republic of Moldova, but it would not warm the status of autonomy within a unitary state. On that occasion, Shevchyuk stressed that the economic blockade imposed by Moldova is to blame for the massive depopulation of the Transnistrian region. It is interesting to note that Shevchyuk stated while addressing the Russian State Duma on March 13, 2008 that the cause of the massive depopulation of the Transnistrian region is the fact that Russia fuels hopes of recognising Transnistria but it does not justify this optimism with concrete actions, and this deceives the residents of the separatist region and makes them quit the enclave.

Transnistrian authorities had to justify themselves in front of Russian media outlets in order to accept and even support the installation near the Bender fortress of a commemorative plate dedicated to Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Mazepa, regarded in Russia as a traitor for having joined Charles XII in 1709 during the confrontation of the latter with Peter the Great. For this purpose, Vladimir Yastrebceak, deputy foreign minister of Transnistria, said that Ukraine’s interests should be taken into consideration as well for the survival of the Tiraspol regime. He noted that the Transnistrian budget spends funds to maintain graves of Russian soldiers killed during battles in the region. These explanations came to make clear that the Tranasnistrian regime seeks the economic and financial assistance of Russia but has to commemorate Ukrainian historical personalities hated by Russia.

Transnistrian authorities have started negotiating with GAZPROM officials the possible transmission of 13.44 percent of shares owned by the Tiraspol administration in the joint stock society Moldova-Gaz to the ownership of the Russian energy giant. Details are unavailable, but the transmission could be the price of Transnistria’s debts of over 1.5 billion dollars. In consequence, Transnistrian authorities could be allowed to sign direct natural gas supply contracts with GAZPROM. In the event this transaction is done, some statements by Smirnov that a strategy of Transnistria is to get stuck with debts towards Russia in order to further pay with the patrimony of the region and become part of Russia this way, would be confirmed.

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Transnistrian Conflict on October 1–31, 2008

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