Moldovan president says Tiraspol regime refuses providing by Chisinau authorities of humanitarian assistance to citizens on left bank of Dniester

Chisinau, 30 December /MOLDPRES/ - The Tiraspol regime refuses the providing by the Moldovan authorities of humanitarian assistance to the citizens on the left bank of Dniester, in the context of the energy crisis triggered by the Gazprom giant. The latter unilaterally informed that it ceased the deliveries of natural gas to the eastern Moldova districts starting from 1 January 2025. President Maia Sandu today made statements to this effect, following a working meeting with the participation of Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu and Deputy PM for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian.     

Russia once again wants to destabilize the situation in Moldova, to create problems, to influence the elections due in 2025 and, certainly, it wants to get Moldova back from its road of accession to the European Union, Maia Sandu stressed.   

„We have the supply with natural gas ensured for the right bank of Dniester. The procurements were made for entire heating season. Also, the government undertakes all measures to ensure the uninterrupted supply of electric energy. For the left bank, the things are more complicated. The government, along with the development partners, came up with concrete proposals of providing humanitarian assistance. I mean here food products, medicines, fuel, generators, carriage of sick people from the left bank to hospitals on the right bank, if needed. I understood that the Tiraspol regime refused this assistance; so, we will see how the things will unfold. The authorities do their utmost to ease the situation.’’ Maia Sandu emphasized.    

The Moldovan president noted that the reason invoked by Gazprom was an inexistent debt. ‘’The reason invoked is an alleged old debt of 10-15 years, which is not real. We saw also the international audit, which proved that this debt does not exist,’’ the head of state also said.    

Also, the president said that the citizens on the left bank of Dniester faced difficulties in the payment of the real price for the energy resources, including because of the low salaries.

„Russia triggered the conflict at Dniester and the Kremlin kept this situation, supported the regime during three decades and we presently have a concrete situation, in which the citizens on the left bank have lower incomes. The average salary in the Transnistrian region is by 60 per cent lower than the average salary on the right bank. It is clear that the people there have bigger difficulties to pay the real price for the energy resources and not only,’’ Maia Sandu said.   

In these conditions, the Moldovan president called on the citizens to unity. ‘’We must stay united; we must be in solidarity; we must be confident in ourselves, have confidence in Moldova. Also, it is quite important that we use the energy resources as rationally as possible,’’ Maia Sandu also said.   

The Russian giant Gazprom two days ago notified the daughter company which it controls, the Moldovagaz stock company, that it would no longer deliver natural gas starting from 1 January 2025, 08:00, invoking the pretext that Moldovagaz ‘’constantly does not fulfill its payment obligations.’’   

In the context, PM Dorin Recean said that ‘’our country is prepared to manage any situation emerged following the Kremlin’s decision.’’ Also, the prime minister stressed that ‘’the government condemns this oppressive tactics and reiterates that it will not recognize any alleged debt, which was invalidated by the international audit.’’