Since the beginning of the year, Russia has stopped supplying natural gas to the Republic of Moldova “until further notice.” The reason for this is outstanding payments from the government in Chisinau. Moscow apparently wants to increase pressure on the country’s pro-European leadership. But the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria is also being hit by the supply freeze – much harder than Moldova.
The leadership in Tiraspol now extended the power cuts to eight hours a day and called on the approximately 350,000 Transnistrians to save electricity. “Walk around your house, check that all appliances are turned off, that no lamp is on that is not needed,” Vadim Krasnoselski, head of the internationally unrecognized republic, wrote in Telegram on Tuesday.
The army hands out firewood
Without gas, electricity production in Transnistria has shrunk sharply. 1,500 high-rise buildings and 72,000 private homes are not heated. Industry has come to a standstill and the street lights are going out. The leadership called on people to use wood for heating and deployed the army to distribute firewood.
The heart of Moldova can cope better with the delivery stop in Moscow. The country can import gas and electricity from neighboring Romania, albeit at high prices. The government in Chisinau announced that it had offered to supply Transnistria as well. Krasnoselski denied that such an offer existed. The EU says it is monitoring the situation in Transnistria together with the Moldovan government.
Russian embassy warns of violence
The Russian embassy in Chisinau warned Moldovan politicians not to use force to solve the separatist problem in the shadow of the energy crisis. The backbone of the separatist force in Transnistria are about 1,500 Russian soldiers who guard old ammunition depots or act as peacekeepers. Most soldiers are local residents. The troops are cut off from their motherland, Russia.
According to the government in Chisinau, only about nine million dollars remains in debt. It is suspected that Moscow is using gas as pressure against the pro-European leadership of the small ex-Soviet republic between Ukraine and Romania. Politically, the Republic of Moldova has long been torn between a course towards the EU and rapprochement with Russia.
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.
