10 Nov 2022 12:05

Transdniestrian leader believes Moldova's authorities blackmailing Russia

TIRASPOL. Nov 10 (Interfax) - Leader of Transdniestria Vadim Krasnoselsky believes that Moldova's authorities are trying to destabilize the situation in the region and to blackmail Russia, citing it as the reason behind the reduction of gas supplies to Transdniestria.

"While deciding to cut gas supplies to Transdniestria, Chisinau could not fail to understand that it would negatively impact the economy, would cause enterprises to halt operation and would thus affect residents of the republic as well. A decision like this one may pursue several goals simultaneously. The first goal is to cause instability and to provoke unrest in Transdniestria, because it is necessary to export the unrest [that is ongoing in Moldova]. Why are people demonstrating in Moldova alone? It is necessary to make it so that they start demonstrating in Transdniestria as well! This is the plan," Krasnoselsky said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The second goal which Krasnoselsky believes Chisinau is pursuing is to "blackmail Russia by the worsening economic situation of Transdniestria."

"Here it is possible to kill two birds with one stone: to leave people without jobs and stop our enterprises in order to make us economically weaker and to blackmail Russia, naturally," he said.

JSC Moldovagaz CEO Vadim Ceban earlier denied allegations that Moldova is taking gas intended for Transdniestria. Russian gas company Gazprom reduced gas deliveries to Moldova by 50% to 5.7 million cubic meters per day in November, as a result of which the amount of gas supplied to the left bank of the Dniestr River was also cut by 40% to 2.3 million cubic meters per day, he said.

At the same time, Moldova's right-bank part, where eight times as many people live than on the left bank, is receiving 60% of the overall amount, or one-third of its gas needs, in November.