Russia uses Transnistria to blackmail Moldova
Russia continues to blackmail Moldova through the Transnistria region, according to Sergiu Tofilat, the government's representative on the Moldovagaz supervisory board. Tofilat told the Moldova 1 TV show "În Context" that the Kremlin is using the region's energy resources to exert pressure on Moldova.
"As a state, we need to decide whose side we are on," Tofilat said. "The whole civilised world is on Ukraine's side. I believe that we must also be on Ukraine's side. Thanks to the Ukrainian army, we can sleep soundly at night. They are defending the independence of the Republic of Moldova against the aggression of the Russian Federation and Putin. I am categorically against the idea of coming to an understanding with Russia and buying gas from Gazprom. Buying gas from Gazprom means financing Putin's military aggression against Ukraine and Moldova."
Tofilat said that the Transnistrian region has survived for years because it did not pay for the gas it received. The debt was transferred to Moldovagaz. In addition, Tiraspoltransgaz sells the fuel to the Metalurgic Plant and the Cuciurgan Power Plant, and all the money goes to the separatist administration's budget.
"If Gazprom does not deliver gas, the Transnistrian region will not be able to buy gas or electricity at any price," Tofilat said. "So they will be forced to return to the constitutional territory of the Republic of Moldova. The Transnistrian conflict is entering the stage of resolution. And it must be done peacefully. We are already talking about a reunification plan. We need to implement our legislation, see what we do with the financial system, medicine, justice, compensations, and so on. This is a more complex process."
