Before we start our conversation let's note that according to the open-source data by April 11, 1:10 p.m. in Moldova there are 1,438 coronavirus cases, 30 deaths and 75 recovered.
This is a really tragic statistic. Good health to everyone. Against this background the statements of the RM political negotiator Cristina Lesnic are unclear. She stated:
''After many efforts made by the Political Bureau Of Reintegration and by me personally to overcome the emergency situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of real information from the Pridnestrovian region, as well as the blocking of actions to save life and health of people, we realized that convening the 5 + 2 format is the only solution.''
However, Pridnestrovian statistic is publicly available. The Moldovan side did not question the data. It makes no sense, as today tests from the PMR are studied in the laboratory of Chisinau.
Of course, in the PMR there is less population than in Moldova, but we have also to consider that Tiraspol has introduced quarantine and closed the borders much earlier. Besides, in Pridnestrovie, there are no buses and planes with hundreds and thousands of people from abroad, who can be potential carriers of coronavirus. Here is the data for April 9:
''The last 24 hours there have been 2,434 cases of the Republic of Moldova border crossing, 1,396 of which relate to entry into the country. 764 people crossed the border through the Moldo-Romanian checkpoints, 399 people crossed the border through the Moldo-Ukrainian checkpoints. Also, 233 passengers arrived in Moldova by the charter flights, the Border Police reports.''
Presumably the attempts to show the necessity of urgent discussion of the PMR situation are intended to solve the following problems, from the point of view of Chisinau:
- To shift attention from a more difficult situation in Moldova to a calmer one (for today) in Pridnestrovie;
- In anticipation of further complication of the situation in Moldova, to divert attention from it in advance;
- To create in Pridnestrovie additional image nature difficulties in order to ease pressure on the PMR in other directions (import of medicines and other goods).
Unfortunately, this strategy shows that even in conditions of common distress – dangerous infection – the Chisinau authorities do not give up the idea of Pridnestrovie subjugating. As the same Mrs Lesnic has stated earlier: ''We consider the closure of the Ukrainian border on the Pridnestrovian site as a future model of reintegration of the country.''
In addition, she went even further, effectively opposing direct Russian assistance to Pridnestrovie. Let's look at the open sources again.
Pridnestrovie decided to create its own COVID-19 testing laboratory in order not to take samples to the capital of Moldova. Russia has sent 5,000 high-quality tests to Tiraspol. Chisinau did not approve the Pridnestrovian initiative. This was said by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova (RM) for Reintegration Cristina Lesnic. She stated that ''all tests and any other support from outside should only pass through Chisinau.'' ''We do not approve the fact Tiraspol has expressed a desire to create their own laboratory,» - Lesnic noded.
This pressure strategy is clearly visible not only in Pridnestrovie but also in Russia. The head of the committee on Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Kalashnikov said: ''Can you imagine the situation in Pridnestrovie? On the one hand, it has Ukraine and on the other there is Moldova, taking such unfriendly actions. Therefore, I consider it to be a negative factor and I believe that the leadership in Chisinau should remember: tomorrow when everything normalizes, no one will forget these facts. First of all in Pridnestrovie itself.''
He added that at such times, when ordinary people are at risk of infection, ''the truth of intentions and the truth of friendship of two, in fact, independent states, is tested.''
Thus, instead of cooperation in the face of common danger, Moldova's leadership prefers old methods of pressure. But, since these methods are old, they will not work as before. Pridnestrovian-Russian cooperation, as before, will not allow to realize them.
Good health for everyone!
Andrey Safonov, a political scientist
