Political analyst: Transnistria could be used by Russia for the intensification of the conflict in Ukraine
The leadership of the Russian Federation can use the situation with the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic to intensify the conflict in the Donbas, as expressed on the evening program on the radio of Krym.Realii by the Russian political analyst, Ivan Preobrazhensky.
The expert noted that the statement of the authorities of the unrecognized Transnistria regarding the initiation of the procedure of joining Russia was agreed upon with the Kremlin and can have consequences for Ukraine.
“I believe, if this statement was not authorized by anyone, we would find out about it over the next day or two because the leader of the unrecognized Transnistria would lose his post and would drop out of sight,” Preobrazhensky said.
The expert explained that the fate of Transnistria as part of the Russian Federation has not yet been determined by the Kremlin. Here, Russian authorities have other objectives, Preobrazhenksy noted. Perhaps, it may be the escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
“It can be interpreted in two ways. On the one hand, Yevgeny Shevchuk [leader of the unrecognized Transnistria had to at least talk to someone at the Kremlin and probably agreed. On the other hand, we cannot say that this initiative was made by Vladimir Putin, or that there is a final decision regarding Transnistria. It’s more like a regular test of forces, a demonstration like we have seen in the past. It’s more like an attempt of the so-called ‘war party’ in Moscow which favors a deep confrontation with the West and the European Union. Or an attempt to exploit the situation in Transnistria for new deterioration in relations. Perhaps, if not an intensification of the conflict in Transnistria, then at least the deterioration of further relations with Ukraine and a deepening of the conflict in the Donbas,” Preobrazhensky said.
On the 9th of September, the leader of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, Yevgeny Shevchuk, signed a decree entitled “On the implementation of the outcome of the Republican referendum held on 17 September 2006 in which the majority of Transnistrians voted for independence of their region and to join Russia.”
The decree states that “bringing the legal system of Transnistria into conformity with the Federal law of the Russian Federation becomes a key issue of the domestic policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.”
On 17 September 2006 the so-called “referendum” was held in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Over 97% of population voted to join Russia. The results of the vote was not recognized by Moldova, western countries, the European Union, or Ukraine. The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a resolution on the recognition of the referendum as legitimate. The international community recognizes Transnistria as part of Moldova.