Politics
Tensions emerge between Belarus and Russia
Reading Time: 4 minutesRussias relationship with its former closest ally Belarus, has reached a new low point following a bitter dispute. Moscow has apparently struggled to remain on good terms with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenka -described by some as Europes last dictator.
By Sergei Blagov
Russia’s relationship with its former closest ally Belarus, has reached a new low point following a bitter dispute. Moscow has apparently struggled to remain on good terms with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenka -described by some as Europe’s last dictator. Meanwhile, although both countries have attempted to form a "union state," Lukashenka bluntly told his government that they must no longer rely upon Russia. The session of the council of ministers of the Russia-Belarus union state held in Minsk on May 28, proved to be a major disappointment for both sides.
Russian officials were keen to appease the authoritarian Belarusian leader. "Russia is always ready to support Belarus," Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said after talks in Minsk with his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Sidorsky and President Lukashenka. Russia will continue to provide financial support to Belarus, he told a news conference. Putin said that the Russian gas giant Gazprom had issued advance payments for gas transit via Belarus until October this year (www.belta.by, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, RIA Novosti, May 28).
After the talks, Sidorsky urged Moscow to lift all restrictions on Belarusian exports into Russia. He argued that Belarus accounts for only 4 percent of Russia’s imports -thus posing no threat to Russian manufacturers. Sidorsky also said that in the first quarter of 2009 Russia had a sizable trade surplus with Belarus (www.belta.by, Interfax, May 28).
On May 28, Russia and Belarus signed agreements on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and land lease issues. On February 3, the supreme state council of the union state adopted a joint action plan, designed to limit the adverse repercussions of the financial crisis. In March, Russia disbursed the second $500 million installment of the $2 billion Russian loan, following the $1 billion granted in November 2008.
The Russian government press-service said in a statement before the meeting that Moscow "prioritized multi-faceted integration and cooperation with Belarus in its CIS policies." However, on May 22, Lukashenka accused Moscow of sabotaging the union state arrangements: "The presidents make decisions but the Russian government fails all of them," he argued. "They accuse us of cooperating with the West, but we have no other option," Lukashenka protested (Interfax, May 28).
Yet in the wake of the talks on May 28, Lukashenka intensified his verbal assault on Russian policies. On May 29, Lukashenka ordered the government to end "weeping, bowing and begging" to Russia (EDM, June 1). He also suggested that no country will be permitted to pressure Belarus. Moreover, he warned against what he described as attempts "to pocket" Belarus (www.belta.by, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, RIA Novosti, May 29). Lukashenka’s rhetoric was apparently in response to remarks made by the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and the Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin. On May 28, Kudrin warned that Belarus might become insolvent by the end of this year, as the country’s currency reserves became further depleted. He said the disbursement of the last $500 million installment of a $2 billion Russian loan will depend on Belarusian economic policies, adding that Minsk had refused to accept the $500 million loan in Russian rubles (Interfax, May 28).
Not surprisingly, Belarusian officials dismissed Kudrin’s remarks. On May 29, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov insisted the country will be able to repay its debt. Its debt remains below 14 percent of the country’s GDP, he argued. Kobyakov also characterized Kudrin’s statements as an "exaggeration" (Interfax, ITAR-TASS, May 29).
Russian officials also tried to repair the damage inflicted by Kudrin’s remarks. Notably, Putin described Kudrin’s "extreme assessment" as "inappropriate" (Interfax, ITAR-TASS, RIA Novosti, May 28). However, Putin’s explanation was not received well amongst the Belarusian government. On May 29, Lukashenka accused Kudrin of seeking to spread panic in Belarus and claimed that Kudrin’s "tirade" was pre-arranged with Putin (www.belta.by, Interfax, May 29). In response, Shuvalov suggested settling bilateral differences "calmly," while the speaker of the Russian Duma Boris Gryzlov said there were no substantial disputes between the countries (ITAR-TASS, May 29). Both sides must not allow mutual trust to be undermined using the economic crisis as a pretext, he said (Interfax, May 29).
Russian lawmakers proved less diplomatic. Alexey Ostrovsky, the head of the Duma’s CIS committee, argued that Lukashenka was unlikely to secure Western backing and had no other viable option but to continue in talks with Moscow (Interfax, May 29). Vadim Gustov, the head of the CIS committee of the federation council (the upper house of parliament) described Lukashenka’s criticism as a "short-sighted" attempt to exert pressure on Russia. Another lawmaker, Oganes Oganyan, dismissed Lukashenka’s statements as "blackmail and provocation" (Interfax, May 29).
Despite these apparent bilateral disagreements, Russian officials still hailed the strength of military ties between Moscow and Minsk. On May 29, Konstantin Biryulin, the deputy head of the Russian service on military-technical cooperation, noted a "positive" experience in the preferential export of Russian arms to Belarus. He said that among the CSTO states, Belarus remains the main buyer of Russian weapons at domestic prices (Interfax, May 29). Russia has significant security interests in Belarus. According to one bilateral agreement, the Russian military enjoys the use an early warning radar hub in Baranovichi free of charge until 2020.
The authoritarian Lukashenka first swept to victory in 1994 based on his promise to reunite Belarus with Russia. In 1997, then Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Lukashenko signed a treaty pledging the formation of a union with its neighbor. Russia and Belarus also agreed to introduce a single currency and a shared system of taxation by 1999, but these agreements were not implemented. For several years, cheap Russian energy supplies to Belarus have proven instrumental in sustaining Lukashenka’s regime -while most of the union state pledges only remain on paper. The latest spat with Minsk indicates Russian difficulties in sustaining its close ties with Belarus. Following Lukashenka’s calls not to rely on Russia, it remains to be seen whether Moscow and Minsk might continue pursuing their "union state" policy.
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, pay an official visit to Brussels, between September 27-28, being invited by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Today, Prime Minister had a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The Moldovan PM thanked the senior European official for the support of the institution in strengthening democratic processes, reforming the judiciary and state institutions, economic recovery and job creation, as well as increasing citizens’ welfare. Natalia Gavrilita expressed her confidence that the current visit laid the foundations for boosting relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, so that, in the next period, it would be possible to advance high-level dialogues on security, justice and energy. Officials also exchanged views on priorities for the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in December.
“The EU is open to continue to support the Republic of Moldova and the ambitious reform agenda it proposes. Moldova is an important and priority partner for us,” said Charles Michel.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita also met with Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, expressing her gratitude for the support received through the OMNIBUS macro-financial assistance program. The two officials discussed the need to advance the recovery of money from bank fraud, to strengthen sustainable mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Moldova, and to standardize the customs and taxes as one of the main conditions for deepening cooperation with the EU in this field.
Additionally, Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and the Deep Free Trade Agreement, noting that the Government’s policies are aimed at developing an economic model aligned with the European economic model, focused on digitalization, energy efficiency and the green economy.
A common press release of the Moldovan Prime Minister with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, took place today, where the agenda of Moldova’s reforms and the main priorities to focus on in the coming months were presented: judiciary reform; fighting COVID-19 pandemic; promoting economic recovery and conditions for growth and job creation; strengthening state institutions and resilience of the country.
“I am here to relaunch the dialogue between my country and the European Union. Our partnership is strong, but I believe there is room for even deeper cooperation and stronger political, economic and sectoral ties. I am convinced that this partnership is the key to the prosperity of our country and I hope that we will continue to strengthen cooperation.”
The Moldovan delegation met Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Tomorrow, there are scheduled common meetings with Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Prime Minister will also attend a public event, along with Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Photo: gov.md
Politics
Promo-LEX about Maia Sandu’s UN speech: The president must insist on appointing a rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Transnistria
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to New York, USA, between September 21-22. There, she participates in the work of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a press release of the President’s Office, the official will deliver a speech at the tribune of the United Nations.
In this context, the Promo-LEX Association suggested the president to request the appointment of a special rapporteur in order to monitor the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. According to Promo-LEX, the responsibility for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region arises as a result of the Russian Federation’s military, economic and political control over the Tiraspol regime.
“We consider it imperative to insist on the observance of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation regarding the withdrawal of the armed forces and ammunition from the territory of the country,” the representatives of Promo-LEX stated. They consider the speech before the UN an opportunity “to demand the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Russian Federation with reference to this territory which is in its full control.”
“It is important to remember about the numerous cases of murder, torture, ill-treatment, forced enlistment in illegal military structures, the application of pseudo-justice in the Transnistrian region, all carried out under the tacit agreement of the Russian Federation. These findings stem from dozens of rulings and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in the region.”
The association representatives expressed their hope that the president of the country would give priority to issues related to the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region and would call on relevant international actors to contribute to guaranteeing fundamental human rights and freedoms throughout Moldova.
They asked Maia Sandu to insist on the observance of the obligation to evacuate the ammunition and the military units of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to publicly support the need for the Russian Federation to implement the ECtHR rulings on human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, and to request the appointment of an UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
**
The Promo-LEX Association concluded that 14 out of 25 actions planned within the National Action Plan for the years 2018–2022 concerning respecting human rights in Transnistria were not carried out by the responsible authorities.
The association expressed its concern and mentioned that there are a large number of delays in the planned results. “There is a lack of communication and coordination between the designated institutions, which do not yet have a common vision of interaction for the implementation of the plan.”
Promo-LEX requested the Government of the Republic of Moldova to re-assess the reported activities and to take urgent measures, “which would exclude superficial implementation of future activities and increase the level of accountability of the authorities.”
Photo: peacekeeping.un.org
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