{"id":448433,"date":"2020-06-30T19:20:39","date_gmt":"2020-06-30T19:20:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/?p=448433"},"modified":"2020-06-30T19:32:58","modified_gmt":"2020-06-30T19:32:58","slug":"the-effect-of-russias-constitutional-changes-on-the-transnistrian-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/the-effect-of-russias-constitutional-changes-on-the-transnistrian-region\/","title":{"rendered":"The effect of Russia’s constitutional changes on the Transnistrian region"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

A nationwide referendum is held in the Russian Federation between June 25 and July 1<\/strong>\u00a0in order to amend the constitution of the country.<\/p>\n

Due to the coronavirus pandemic,\u00a0the opportunity to vote during several days was provided. The voting process is held outside and, in addition, contactless voting at home, electronic voting and voting using the Mobile Voter mechanism are available.<\/p>\n

In the Transnistrian region, voting was allowed for three days, from\u00a0June 28-30<\/strong>, the whole process being organised under similar conditions as in Russia, the Tass News Agency announced<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to a survey conducted<\/a> at 800 Russian polling stations from June 25 to June 28, the majority of voters opted for the amendments, 23.6% opposed them and 0.4% invalidated the ballot paper,<\/p>\n

Beside the amendment offering the possibility of prolonging the presidential term of Vladimir Putin<\/span> (until 2036 instead of 2024), there are a a few controversial amendments to the Russian fundamental law.<\/p>\n

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Source: Facebook| The Center for the Study of the Transnistrian Conflict Consequences<\/p><\/div>\n

Russian federal territories<\/h3>\n

One of the most important articles of the Constitution of the Russian Federation that could be amended is article no. 67<\/strong>,\u00a0 which provides for creation of federal territories in Russia and introduction of the expression “subjects of the Russian Federation”<\/em>.<\/p>\n

“By making this change, Putin wants to make sure that certain federal subjects do not leave the Russian Federation, such as Chechnya, Tatarstan or Crimea, the latter being illegally occupied by the Russian Federation. The territory of the Republic of Moldova doesn’t belong to\u00a0 the Russian Federation. However, taking into consideration the priorities that President Dodon and socialist have, one could draw a parallel.<\/em><\/p>\n

During the propagandist Moscow parade, Putin mentioned in his speech that all neighbours ‘are part of the Russian world’. Moldova, according to Vladimir Putin, is part of his strategic interest. The fact that 11% of the Moldova’s territory is hosting occupation troops proves it one more time,”<\/em> said security policy expert Rosian Vasiloi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Previously, President Igor Dodon claimed<\/a> that federalisation is the only solution to solving conflicts in the Republic of Moldova<\/span>, including the Transnistrian one.<\/p>\n

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Source: Facebook| The Center for the Study of the Transnistrian Conflict Consequences<\/p><\/div>\n

Russia as the legal successor to the Soviet Union<\/h3>\n

In the same article, a paragraph was introduced, saying that the Russian Federation is the legal successor of the Soviet Union<\/span>. Another amending paragraph states that the Russian Federation honours the memory of the “Fatherland’s defenders”<\/em> and ensures the protection of historical truth. “The diminution of the importance of the act of heroism in the defence of the Fatherland is not allowed.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Historian Andrei Cusco<\/strong> mentioned<\/a> that the victory in World War II is a myth that represented the main pillar of the regime’s ideology after Putin came to power in 2000. “Russia has taken certain moments from the Soviet communist narrative and reinterpreted them to serve the interests and visions of the current regime,”<\/em> Cusco said.<\/p>\n

The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation prohibits the dissemination of information that expresses a clear disrespect regarding the days of military glory and memorable dates in Russia related to the defence of the Fatherland, as Meduza\u00a0informed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A good example is the reaction of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Moldova<\/strong> to the TVR Moldova declaration<\/a> that June 22, 1941 was the day when Romania entered the World War II to liberate the Russian-occupied lands in the summer of 1940. “For Romanians, this date went down in history as the day of starting the fight for the reunification of the nation. The President of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Dodon, is not of the same opinion, as he stated that today is the day when the occupation of Bessarabia began,”<\/em> it is said in the article.<\/p>\n

The Embassy of the Russian Federation qualified<\/a> the material as “uncivilised and extremely dangerous, because it justifies the war criminals.” <\/em><\/p>\n

“Such tricks offend most Russian citizens who remember the common heroism of the Red Army that saved Europe from the Nazi plague.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The perfect Russian child<\/h3>\n

One more completion to the constitution refers to children education, namely patriotism, citizenship and respect for the elderly.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The same approach existed during the USSR, when the principles of a very cultured man were considered love for the socialist homeland, friendship, companionship, humanity, honour, love for socialist work, etc.<\/p>\n