Kremlin pledges support to its citizens in Moldova’s breakaway Transdniestria
- 20 December, 08:54
Russia will protect Moldova’s Moscow-backed separatist Transdniestria region, foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
“Russia will react adequately to any provocations and will ensure the protection of its citizens, peacekeeping contingent, servicemen of the task force of Russian troops and military warehouses in the settlement of Kolbasna in Transdniestria," Zakharova said in a presser.
Zakharova’s statement comes following Transdniestria region’s parliament appealed to Moscow over the gas supply problems that aroused from the termination of the contract that allows transfer of Russian gas via Ukraine. Zakharova stressed that any action threatening the separatist enclave will be deemed as a threat to Kremlin.
Transdniestria is a Russian-backed region that broke away from Moldova after the war in 1990. Hosting around 1,500 Russian soldiers, the region is politically and militarily supported by Kremlin, with its de-facto government engaging in the constant standoff with Chisinau.
Last week, Moldova and Transdniestria announced a state of emergency due to the expected cut-off of Russian gas supplies due to expiration of the energy agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Transdniestria’s parliament sent an appeal to Kremlin, asking them to secure a new accord ensuring further supplies of Russian gas through Ukraine. Ukraine announced this week that it won’t extend the contract allowing the transfer of Russian gas via its territory.
