Tiraspol, 29 May. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. On 24 May, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said on NTV Moldova that the total amount of aid received by Pridnestrovie over the past two decades was over $15 billion. The head of the Pridnestrovian government, Alexander Martynov, said in an interview with journalists that the amount voiced by Dodon was untrue.
«As far as I know, Mr Dodon is an economist. It is common for us, the economists, to confirm words with calculations. Unfortunately, Mr Dodon hasn't done so. He has voiced the figure of $15 billion. Without any calculations being presented on air, you can voice any figure you want. Obviously, this figure is contrary to fact," Martynov commented on Dodon's words.
According to the prime minister, another allegation by the Moldovan leader that Pridnestrovie «carves up» the money designed to pay natural gas supplies is also wrong. «If Mr Dodon has any evidence that Russia's gas supplies are being plundered in Pridnestrovie, let him produce it so that the relevant authorities could investigate this issue," underscored the prime minister.
Alexander Martynov added that Pridnestrovie's economic activities were always open to monitoring and that two independent Russian audit companies were currently working in Pridnestrovie.
«These audits have been initiated by Pridnestrovie. Therefore, Pridnestrovie is open today to Russian governmental structures, absolutely transparent, and against this backdrop Mr Dodon's allegations seem defiant and utterly unfounded," said Martynov.
The prime minister also stressed that when Igor Dodon said that the Pridnestrovian economy was supported with low gas prices, he did not mention that more than half of that gas was consumed by Russian enterprises operating in the PMR.
According to Martynov, amid growing external pressure on the country, such statements by the Moldovan president look like an attempt to «rock» Pridnestrovian society, to sow rumours and doubts.
«Mr Dodon has proposed Pridnestrovian citizens to make a choice. I want to note that Pridnestrovian citizens already made a clear choice in 2006. You know this choice — the choice we made together. This is the independence of Pridnestrovie," noted Alexander Martynov.
