Moldovan president's message for citizens from left bank of Dniester

Chisinau, Jan 9 /MOLDPRES/- Visiting the localities in the Security Zone, President Maia Sandu addressed a message to the citizens of the localities on the left bank of the Dniester river that are facing an energy crisis after Russia refused to deliver natural gas to Moldova. The head of state assured them of support from the constitutional authorities and emphasized that there must also be a willingness on the part of Tiraspol and Moscow to solve people's problems.

After the meeting with mayors that took place in the morning in Varnitsa, Dubasari district, Maia Sandu came out in front of the press to answer journalists' questions. Maia Sandu also had a message for the citizens on the left bank of the Dniester, which she delivered in Russian.

"We understand that they are going through difficult times, we are ready to help them. I would like them to know that this crisis is created by Gazprom, because the Republic of Moldova has a gas supply contract and according to this contract, Gazprom is obliged to deliver gas. There is an alternative TurkStream pipeline, so it is not a problem that Russian gas cannot transit the territory of Ukraine. Gazprom has decided that it no longer wants to supply gas, which is why people have this big problem.

We are willing to help with generators, medicines, people can come to the right bank of the Dniester, if they need medical assistance or to solve other problems.

Yesterday I discussed with President of Ukraine that Ukraine can provide coal so that the Cuciurgan power plant can produce electricity for the left bank and the right bank and for Ukraine. So the solution is there. Now it is necessary for Tiraspol, but also Moscow to agree to solve people's problems," said Maia Sandu.

Prime Minister Dorin Recean emphasized that Tiraspol is not independent in its decisions. "The problem is that Russia is inducing this crisis as it did in Abkhazia and elsewhere by using energy as a weapon to achieve its geostrategic goals. This crisis, as President Maia Sandu mentioned, is induced by the Russian Federation in order to create destabilization in the Republic of Moldova and to use the Republic of Moldova in Russia's war against Ukraine," the Prime Minister said.

The 14 localities on the left bank of the Dniester River under Chisinau's jurisdiction will be provided with energy resources until they are connected to the networks managed by the constitutional authorities. The assurances were given by President Maia Sandu who, together with Prime Minister Dorin Recean and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian visited Varnița, Dubăsari, on January 9.

The officials discussed with the mayors the energy situation in their localities, the ways of interconnection to the networks managed by the constitutional authorities and the needs to get through this year. Maia Sandu announced several solutions to provide energy to public institutions and support citizens in these localities.