Transnistrian Conflict on December 1–15, 2010

Reactions by Transnistrian authorities towards the position of the Republic of Moldova at OSCE Summit

Transnistrian authorities have criticized the position of the Republic of Moldova at the OSCE Summit in Astana. Transnistrian Foreign Minister, Vladimir Yastrebchak, treated as contempt the refusal of the Acting President of the Republic of Moldova Mihai Ghimpu to attend the Summit, qualifying the absence of the Moldovan head of state as a manifestation of irresponsibility towards the issue of normalization of political relations and unwillingness to discuss on the “new security architecture in Europe”, promoted by the Russian Federation. In the same train of ideas, the Transnistrian diplomacy support the refusal of Russia to sign the final political declaration of the Summit and the action plan, because the wordings proposed by Georgian delegation on “territorial integrity of Georgia” and those proposed by the Moldovan delegation “on withdrawal of Russian military troops from Transnistria” would be unacceptable.

Lack of progress in resuming the negotiation process — a consequence of political instability

Transnistrian authorities and representatives of the Russian Federation made statements concerning the lack of progress towards the resumption of negotiations as a result of political instability in Moldova, which for almost two years cannot elect the head of state. Transnistrian representatives consider that the stagnation in the process of building confidence between the two banks of Nistru River is an expression of lack of powers of the delegations from the Republic of Moldova, which cannot resolve its constitutional conflict. That is why the problems related to the removal of the economic blockade, which was imposed on Transnistria in 2006, and the repeal of the Act on Transnistrian settlement, adopted in July 2005, cannot be addressed. And Russian Ambassador to the European Commission, Vladimir Chizhov, said he sees no prerequisites for the resumption of the “5+2” format, as Chisinau did not solved yet its internal problems as a result of early parliamentary elections. According to him, Russia needs partners “on both banks of Nistru River, responsible and able to contribute”, which is difficult to get until the removal of the causes that lead constantly to early elections.

Transnistrian authorities protest against violation of Russian citizens’ rights

Transnistria’ s representative to the Joint Control Commission (CUC), Oleg Beleacov, sent a letter to the representatives of Russia and Ukraine to the respective commission where he denounced the violation of the rights of Russian citizens, residents of Transnistria, by Moldovan authorities. According to Beleacov, the inhabitants of Transnistria, who are citizens of Russian Federation, complain that Moldovan authorities violate their right to free movement, reasoning their actions by the fact that under the agreement between the Republic of Moldova, on the one hand, and Ukraine and Russian Federation, on the other hand, both Ukraine and Russia provides that their citizens may stay in Moldova’s territory without registration up to 90 days, then they must leave the territory. Since the inhabitants of Transnistria, with Russian and Transnistrian citizenship, which the Moldovan authorities do not recognize, are moving on the right bank with Russian documents, they often encounter problems related to the violation of visa regime in Moldova such as developing administrative protocols, applying fines of up to 500 Moldovan lei or even threatening of deportation from the country. The representatives of Transnistrian authorities consider that in this way Moldovan authorities violate the right of the Transnistrian citizens to free movement. As argument, Oleg Beleacov, invokes Article 1 of the Protocol signed on May 16, 2001 by President Vladimir Voronin and Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov, “concerning mutual recognition of documents issued by the competent authorities of the Parties”.

Transnistria’ s representative to CUC protested against the establishment of concrete blocks

At the sitting of the United Control Commission (CUC), held on 2 December, Transnistria’s representative Oleg Beleacov considered the situation created as a result of the establishment by the Moldovan side of the concrete blocks near the control point in Cosnita village. Transnistrian representative considers that the establishment of the concrete blocks can be treated as an action of building fortifications in the security zone, which is prohibited by the agreement on principles regulating the armed conflict in the Transnistrian region of Moldova, signed in 1992. The request made by Transnistrian side was satisfied.

Legislative elections in Transnistria and the consequences on constitutional reform

On December 12, elections to the Supreme Soviet took place in Transnistrian region. 123 people ran for 43 MP seats. Those nearly 400,000 citizens eligible to vote cast their votes in 259 polling stations. The turnout represented only 42.6%, decreasing compared to previous elections. “Ravnopravie” Party that is a political expression of the “Sheriff” and competes with the political group affiliated to the head of Transnistrian administration Igor Smirnov, got the victory and the absolute majority in the Supreme Soviet. The fact that “Ravnopravie” obtained only a simple majority and not a constitutional one means that the political battle for amendments to Transnistrian Constitution returns to last year’s status quo. The intrigue of constitutional amendment is related to presidential elections to be held in the region in December 2011. Smirnov’s group is interested, in particular, to raise the residence census in region and to set the condition for mandatory holding of Transnistrian citizenship by people who aspire to high positions in the region. It is considered that by doing so Smirnov wants to protect his positions and of his entourage against any attempts by Moscow, which controls quasi-completely the region, to introduce changes in the Transnistrian leadership.

e-democracy.md