Information security expert Tigran Kocharyan has shared impressions of the press tour around the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in an exclusive interview for Novosti Pridnestrovya News Agency. According to the journalists, he was impressed with amicability and sociability of Pridnestrovians, both ordinary citizens and authorities, with whom all press tour participants were able to talk closely.
«The impressions are only good, from our very first minute in the PMR. We were impressed with the amicability and sociability of the residents. From a guide in the Bendery Fortress to Pridnestrovie's high-ranking officials, they were all ready to listen patiently to our questions and answer them sincerely, without concealing the truth. It was seen that Pridnestrovians adequately experience reality and sincerely love their Motherland," said the expert.
However, during the trip the journalist had to come into contact with Moldova's police. Migration police officers tried to find out Tigran Kocharyan's purpose of travel.
«I was going via Moscow as there are no direct flights to Moldova from Yerevan. At the passport control an officer tried to elicit the purpose of travel from me for five minutes or so and got the same answer — tourism. At last her chief came, looked through the passport, saw USA and Israel visas among many others and, having calmed down at heart, put a stamp," says the journalist.
Moldovan police officers showed even greater interest in Tigran Kocharyan's Russian colleagues.
«On exiting from the terminal, I had a smoke and, when I came back, I saw Moldovan security officers talking lively with the Russian journalists and their welcomer. Then they were taken to the closet, and we had to wait for them in the bus for half an hour. Soon everything was settled, and the bus brought our group to Pridnestrovie," recalls Tigran Kocharyan.
The first thing that caught the journalist's eye on the arrival in the republic was the tidiness and neatness of Pridnestrovian cities. «Tiraspol alongside Stepanakert and Minsk is one of the tidiest and brightest cities I've ever been to. People take care of their city, the country's capital, and try to keep it clean and in order," says Tigran Kocharyan.
«The republic itself is also interesting for those who take interest in history as very many historic events are directly related to Pridnestrovie's cities and villages. As the Armenian, I am very pleased to know there is a remarkable town of Grigoriopol in Pridnestrovie, founded by the Armenian settlers at the end of the 18th century and named after the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Saint Gregory the Illuminator," argues the journalist.
Replying to the question if there is sense of the Pridnestrovian people's mental affiliation with the Russian world, the expert noted that the people he personally talked to had not only claimed their belonging to the Russian civilization but also expressed sincere hope for Pridnestrovie's accession to the Russian Federation.
«There was a difference from Russia. First, the Pridnestrovian people is not mono-ethnic, second, there is no common border with Russia — all these have implications for the behaviour of an ordinary Pridnestrovian citizen, starting from the war the republic has gone through to the fact that to keep his identity, a Pridnestrovian under blockade has to be an even greater patriot of the Russian world than a Russian living in Tyumen or Kurgan," he added.
On the outcome of the tour Tigran Kocharyan gave a high appraisal of Pridnestrovie's economic potential, noting that the chief constraint for its full realisation is Moldova's negative restricting policy.
«I do understand the status of Pridnestrovie since the Nagorny-Karabakh Republic has the same legal status, and the tasks Pridnestrovie is addressing are in many respects similar to Karabakh tasks. As distinct to many recognised and non-recognised states, the PMR has preserved its industrial potential and, but for the obstacles by Moldova and Ukraine, would have turned to a prosperous land long ago. Unfortunately, Moldova's policy does not give a chance to Pridnestrovie even to consider a possible integration with the EU, which is why the intensification of the relations with Russia and the Eurasian Union is the only way out for Pridnestrovie to retain its independent policy and avoid ruining the economy," says the expert.
According to him, in the existing difficult situation Russia as a guarantor has to grant comprehensive assistance to Pridnestrovie.
«It is natural that Russia must support Pridnestrovians at all levels as it would be very unreasonable to leave them face to face with their problems. Russia must understand that half a million Pridnestrovians are looking towards Russia with hope as they do not want the events of 19 June 1992 to recur or the linguistic fascism imposed on them by Moldovan unionists," notes Tigran Kocharyan.
Yet the expert is sure that in the near term Moldova will continue the policy of economic pressure on Pridnestrovie, but there is no threat the conflict will turn into armed confrontation again.
«I do not think that any side will try to unleash an armed conflict in Pridnestrovie as it is very difficult to predict the outcome of this war. That is why Moldova has adopted the tactics of economic smothering of Pridnestrovie to make its leadership more yielding. However, taken into account the experience of Armenia and the NKR, which have been suffering an almost 20-year long blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey, this goal is hard to achieve: several generations of Pridnestrovians, who do not realise any other way of life and system of values, have already grown up," forecasts Tigran Kocharyan.
«There is only one way out for Russia in this situation: to protect by all means Pridnestrovie against possible threats and unblock the country's economy. Of course, it is necessary to take into consideration the factor of Odessa's governor-provocateur and try to suppress possible provocations," adds the expert.
In the interview, Tigran Kocharyan also commented on the protests which took place in September in Kishinev. According to him, they could be staged by Moldova's European partners to exert pressure on its political elite.
«The Kishinev maidan is unique as it is the first time when people use Eurointegration slogans against the Eurointegration government. It has become evident in the past years ordinary Moldovans had not benefited from the Eurointegration, which enriched a small group of oligarchs, who had been robbing their own people under cover of the EU flag. Naturally, the forces that have thrust the Eurointrgartion on Moldovan citizens did not like it because the people began to show negative attitude towards eurofanatics, which is why it was decided to organise a maidan to bring impudent oligarchs to senses. Time will show what will happen next, but, in case more zealous eurointrgrators come to power, Pridnestrovie will face much harder times as it will be almost impossible to reach agreement with high-minded persons — and they will be ready to take any steps to please their masters — as opposed to the present money-loving pro-EU oligarchs," notes the expert.
Summing up his impressions of the tour of Pridnestrovie, Tigran Kocharyan said that the main heritage of the country is its people. «What I liked most of all in Pridnestrovie is its remarkable people and its attitude towards the state. I haven't long seen so many beautiful and cheerful faces: even when in a difficult situation, people's optimism and their confidence in the state raise hopes," says the journalist.
According to him, he will be glad to visit Pridnestrovie again if he has such an opportunity. «Of course, if I have an opportunity, I am sure to come to Pridnestrovie again because there is still much to see, to understand and to realise here. The country is very beautiful and interesting in terms of both tourism and its industrial potential," promised Tigran Kocharyan.
The expert highly appreciated the efficiency of such press tours, noting that they are very effective for better positioning of an organising country in the media.
«I highly appreciate such press tours as they allow us, firstly, to break the blockade and, secondly, to ascertain the situation, to obtain first-hand information and better understand in which direction Pridnestrovie is moving. I am very grateful to the Gorchakov Fund and the Pridnestrovian authorities for organising this tour, especially taking into account the obstacles put in the way of those who try to visit Pridnestrovie and render the truth to readers," concluded Tigran Kocharyan.
