Moldovan President Dodon counts on Russian peacekeepers to ensure stability in Transnistria
Moldovan President Igor Dodon wrote on Facebook after a meeting with the President of unrecognized Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky that he considers Russian peacekeepers in Transnistria a defining factor of stability in the region.
"[We] reaffirmed the importance of preserving the existing peacekeeping operation as a factor in maintaining stability and peace in the security zone. It was also noted that some challenges occurred in the area this year, but with joint efforts we managed to overcome them without any major complications," wrote Dodon.
He expressed confidence that the peacekeepers "will facilitate creating a favorable atmosphere, guaranteeing the unrestricted right to all citizens of the Republic of Moldova to free expression in the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 24, 2019".
The Moldovan government proposes to replace Russian peacekeepers with a group of civilian observers under an international mandate but Dodon repeatedly spoke out against it.
Parliamentary elections in Moldova are scheduled for February 24, 2019.