EU extends sanctions for one year on leaders of Transnistrian region
The Council of the European Union has decided to extend the restrictive measures imposed on the leaders, both former and current, of the separatist region of the Republic of Moldova for another year, until October 31, 2026. This information was confirmed by the European Council's press service to Moldova 1 TV.
The sanctions, first imposed in February 2008, include travel bans on individuals barred from entering the European Union. These individuals are deemed responsible for obstructing the political process aimed at resolving the Transnistrian conflict and for the intimidation and closure of Romanian-language schools in the region.
The sanctions target significant figures from the alleged Tiraspol administration, such as Igor Smirnov, the former self-proclaimed leader of the region; his sons, Vladimir and Oleg Smirnov; former so-called foreign minister Valeri Litskai; and the current unrecognized leader of the separatist region on the left bank of the Nistru, Vadim Krasnoselski.
A separate annex also names local officials involved in the crackdown on Latin-script schools, including Igor Mazur, Iuri Platonov, and Veaceslav Cogut.
The European Union sanctions target 16 individuals in total.
Despite the sanctions being extended annually, their implementation has been temporarily halted to promote progress in political dialogue and the restoration of freedom of movement in the region.
The Council of the European Union has announced that it will review the decision on whether to maintain or lift these restrictions at the end of the current validity period, based on developments in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
