The small republic in the east wants to become part of the EU. But the separatist area close to Russia could be an obstacle to this. Propaganda, an ammunition depot and corruption are further challenges for Moldova and the move towards the west.
The cloak flutters, yet Comrade Lenin stands with iron strength in front of the Palace of the Republic in Transnistria. The statue of the revolutionary leader is not a relic of the Soviet Union. Time has stood still here. But let’s start at the beginning: thirty years ago, there were armed clashes between Transnistria’s self-defense militias and the Moldovan National Guard. The fighting left hundreds dead and ended on July 21, 1992. Since then, Russia has stationed 1,500 soldiers in the area as a so-called peacekeeping force. They also oversee a huge ammunition depot in Cobasna.
It is estimated that 20,000 tons of Soviet-era ammunition are stored there. There are no exact figures. And no one knows what Putin plans to do with this powder keg. Propaganda from Russia is ubiquitous here. No wonder: the Kremlin provides free gas. Seven referendums are also intended to confirm that the population wants secession from Moldova. Since 2005, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has been trying to find a negotiated solution to the conflict – to no avail.
The war in Ukraine has shuffled the cards again
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine’s neighbor, Moldova, has reshuffled the cards. There is fear of being the next victim. After all, Russian soldiers are in the globally unrecognized territory of Transnistria. The Moldovan army is weak. Modernization is necessary to be prepared for an attack. Germany supports with the delivery of 19 PIRANHA-3H transport vehicles. “Chisinau is preparing for an invasion of Transnistria. We should be afraid,” says Transnistria’s Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatyev, interpreting the gifts from Germany during the Global Bridges conference for young leaders.
Since the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Transnistria has been virtually frozen. Moldovan President Maia Sandu wants to get her small state into shape and aims to join the EU in 2030. But this requires numerous measures to be taken. Fight against corruption and a free press. “Some TV channels did not report about it for 20 days at the start of the war in Ukraine. The government has now revoked the licenses of six pro-Russian television channels,” reports Marian Raţă, investigative journalist at TV8.
But Putin’s regime repeatedly manages to unsettle and manipulate the Moldovan population using false information. Maia Sandu still wants to get the second poorest country in Europe out of the crisis and is aiming for the EU.
The president could imagine joining the EU despite the conflict
“We want to achieve reintegration of the country before it joins the EU. And a geopolitical opportunity for this could arise in the coming years. That depends on the situation in Ukraine. At the same time, we are also discussing the scenario of joining the EU before the conflict in Transnistria is resolved,” the President explained. More than half of Transnistria’s exports now go to EU countries. Ten years ago, all exports ended up in Russia. “Today, half of the migrant workers from Transnistria move to the EU and no longer exclusively to Russia. This is thanks to the EU’s neighborhood policy,” Sandu said.
Austria supports rapprochement with the EU
The hands are shaking, the shoes are wet, an icicle hangs above the outbuilding in the garden. This is what the winter trip to the toilet looks like for many people in Moldova. “40 percent of the rural population does not have running water. 60 percent are not connected to the canal system,” explains Gunther Zimmer, head of the Moldovan office of the Austrian Development Cooperation Agency (ADA).
Austrian knowledge and financial support (over 6 million euros in 2022) ensure better living conditions for the 2.5 million inhabitants and economic stability – an important point for being part of the EU. “The country has a strong agricultural sector. But some of the knowledge comes from the Soviet times. Together with our partner organizations, we have succeeded in bringing more climate-resilient seeds to the market. We also see progress in the choice of fertilizer. Our work ensures that rivers and groundwater are no longer polluted,” says Zimmer.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
