Politics
Moscow-related hopes of Chisinau and Tiraspol
Reading Time: 4 minutes Two meetings between Voronin and Smirnov have been organised under Moscow’s pressure last year. The first one was hosted by the Bender City Council, and the second meeting took place at the artistic centre for children
Maxim Kuzovlev, ADEPT
"And the Earth, as we know, is beginning from the Kremlin"
by V. Maiakovski
Two meetings between Voronin and Smirnov have been organised under Moscow’s pressure last year. The first one was hosted by the Bender City Council, and the second meeting took place at the artistic centre for children and youths in Tiraspol. Reasons taken into account by the Transnistrian administration to choose the locations of the meetings are well-unknown, but it is certain that by making this choice it has tried to suggest a derisive attitude as well: "You do not recognise us and we do not care about your "recognition". Or to enter a building which has a poster with huge letters announcing the ordinary anniversary of the Transnistrian Constitution." Indeed, such actions are typical to the Transnistrian side. Let’s remember when Petru Lucinschi, elected President of Moldova but not sworn in yet, was visited by Mr. I. Smirnov, who gave a gift to the second Moldovan president – the first issue of the "Atlas of the Moldovan Transnistrian Republic". It was like for your country from our country. It was like "I am really glad that you did not like it, as I do not want you to visit me often."
But one should be aware that the Moldovan side has always regarded Tiraspol as a small, careless and hostile city. Such a "mutual understanding" builds the framework of Chisinau-Tiraspol relations. Something like this: two is written and three is in mind. That’s why the results of long negotiations between the two parties are very predictable. One may put down many predictions. This is also the reason why it was necessary to invite mediators, who were allegedly persuading the sides to negotiate. But despite their assistance, it is unknown so far why the entire negotiation process has finally turned into an amalgam of ceaseless postponements, emergent measures and denial of relations. This process is so long that in allegoric terms "children have grown so much that one cannot recognise them." The conflict broke out in the Soviet times. Everybody had its eyes about Moscow then. They had their eyes about Moscow in the 1990s. Chisinau tried to stop obeying to Moscow for a while. But things did not improve, so that there was no solution without Moscow. It is worth to note that all three presidents of Moldova were so predictable in relations with Moscow that one could call this a miracle. All three presidents of Moldova had plans about the West, but lacked a well-done programme and clear strategies on relations with the West. Even existing documents were implemented inappropriately (if they were implemented or everything was reduced to general reports). All three presidents of Moldova attended the Soviet school of life and party building; that’s why all of them were obeying to Moscow perhaps from inertia, especially in terms of settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. Lots of plans have been worked out to settle the conflict! There were many situations such as "this time, it’s over, tomorrow (in a week, month, this autumn, by the end of the year) the country will be reintegrated." But what happened in fact? Something happened every time. Something was wrong every time. A specific situation was always perpetuated in relations with Moscow that means "neither together, nor without you."
But let’s come back to present times. The two heads promised at the last meeting in late 2008 that they will agree alone. But with Moscow’s consent, how else?! Perhaps the OSCE will be also invited; perhaps, the West will be called as well. And so we are witnesses of a comeback to the origins.
Each party hopes to cheat the other side by assuring alone the support of Moscow. Is it possible? Moscow is big. There are enough financial-political groups there which hold key levers of influence. When the access to the main scale is restricted, one opens the behind door to get inn. "Necessary characters" are found or, in modern terms, the lobbyists who motivate the wanted line if they are approached right. Nor Moscow itself made a clear decision on Transnistria yet. Certain official statements are released because they are indispensable. At the same time, there is a real political battle which Moscow is staging behind the curtain. In consequence, Transnistria is an earless suitcase for Moscow one more time: it is hard to carry it, but it is not easier to throw it.
As regards the new "2+1" format (Chisinau and Tiraspol + Moscow), I am sure that western mediators, observers who were suddenly removed will be happy to see a real reintegration opportunity emerging, but without their participation. Obviously, once Moscow is invited to assist the Transnistrian settlement process, the West will have an instinctive rejection.
The next meeting between Igor Nikolaievich and Vladimir Nikolaievich is set for March 2009. March will be a good time for such meetings, why not?! Moldova will hold elections which Transnistria will not attend, as a rule, and then what issues will Smirnov and Voronin discuss in March? The Transnistrian leader will not wish good luck to the Moldovan president at elections. This meeting, in the event it will take place and will not be postponed as usually for better times, will be marked by certain farewell feelings. Smirnov will "survive" to the second mandate of the third Moldovan president. As regards the results of the possible/scheduled meeting, there are no doubts. The key message of the meeting will be the following: "waiting for your elections to be over and then seeing developments."
Finally, the itinerancy in the Transnistrian labyrinth brings us back to the same place – to Moscow, which is impatient to see the conflict settled, as official Moldovan media has reported for many years.
As well, let’s discuss the issue which all care about and lend an ear to. Moscow enjoys too much attention. Who is the petitioner within the Moldovan-Transnistrian dialogue? Is it Moscow? Such a scenario is not confirmed so far even by the loosest imagination. That’s why Moscow is displaying a kind of laziness and scepticism towards all petitioners from the south-west of the former Soviet Union, like it wants to say: You are so many! And all of you are trying to persuade that your version will be the best, comfortable and successful for Moscow. Attempts of the sides to splash each other in order to satisfy Moscow is a known and approved move as well. While calls like make business with us only are some common proposals.
All of them are standard formulas.
A stereotype.
Is this our way?
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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