Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Good afternoon! It is customary to sum up, analyze, and make plans for the future at the end of the year traditionally.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
I would like today, on the eve of a bright, kind holiday, on the eve of the New Year to invite you to talk not only about the problems that surround us now, not only about the challenges that Pridnestrovie is facing...
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
… But also about the eternal: about good and evil, about family values and, of course, about love.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
We invited for this conversation the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vadim Nikolaevich Krasnoselsky. Good afternoon, Vadim Nikolaevich.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Good afternoon.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, thank you for accepting our invitation. We know the President has a busy schedule, all the more and pre-holiday days. How did you manage to find time to come to us?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
There is no time to find – this is nonsense. There must always be time, for everything moreover. How not to come on the air, not to congratulate people? The schedule of the President is exactly the same as that of any official by and large, just a different responsibility, a different level of problems. Everything is the same in terms of planning.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Taking into consideration the upcoming holiday, I want to get a little away from officialdom.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Hope the ties will not prevent.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
I would like to talk about achievements, about culture, about family values. I want to talk about good things. Vadim Nikolayevich, 2022 is already leaving. What was it like for the world, for Pridnestrovie, for the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
You know, it was probably hard for the world. The redistribution of the world order is always difficult. This is the path to the next round of geopolitical catastrophes, transformations, including territorial ones. All this is not easy. It's not easy to deal with it. The year was contradictory, difficult. The pandemic, hostilities in a neighboring state. It's hard. It's hard for people, for their morale. It is difficult for the economy, for business, it is difficult for any state that is either nearby or involved in this conflict.
This is a personal tragedy for me, I think that this is all bad. This war showed the fragility of peace and the importance of negotiations. I am upset by some comments by prominent politicians who say that the entire negotiation process (the Minsk agreements) was an imitation of course, that everyone was preparing for war. It's terrible, just awful, you know. We must value peace and through negotiations, albeit difficult ones, but move towards peace. It's a bumpy road, really. In my opinion, it is easier to start a war than to have a peaceful dialogue. You can not love each other, even hate, but the process of dialogue should not stop. I think so. So, it's a tragedy as I said. This is tragedy for everyone.
As for Pridnestrovie, we are hostages of the situation, one hundred percent. It's not easy for us. We immediately chose a peace-loving position, we declared our desire for peace, our neutrality in this most difficult situation. We treat everyone with understanding, especially people, you understand? People are hostages of this whole catastrophe, in all this nightmare and horror. Pridnestrovie received fifty-eight thousand refugees. They passed through the republic in any case, someone stayed. We have created decent conditions for children who study with us in kindergarten, at school, receive additional education, and have access to free medicine. Someone rents a house. Our centers are still working for refugees from Ukraine.
I remember that I gathered all the security officials – the ministers of internal affairs, state security – and recommended literally the following: if you suddenly notice some manifestation of aggression on the part of the refugees, some inappropriate actions, you must be sympathetic. Imagine, a woman arrived with children, and her husband, for example, God forbid, he died at war, you never know what happened. This is the human psyche. There may be inappropriate actions on the part of this person. Therefore, it is better to have a conversation with understanding. We have not had a single conflict that would have been associated with refugees from Ukraine for the entire period since February. The people are like we, are no different from us. We mentally complement each other, we are similar to each other. However, there was also this problem.
There was a problem with terrorist attacks. Remember all this hysteria, attempts to leave Pridnestrovie. We did not interfere with anyone. People left, three days later they came again. It was nervous and did not bring optimism to society, society. They lived in such conditions. There were energy problems then. Let's talk about them if you want. There was a transition from the pandemic to other problems. We are probably always on our toes. The Pridnestrovian people are characterized by the fact that we are always in good shape. We are always ready to solve problems, negotiate. We got out of all these terrible situations, the economy stabilized. God willing, everything will be fine.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, you said that Pridnestrovie took a position of neutrality in this whole situation. We are for peace because we know that war is a tragedy. Have you ever listened to criticism that Pridnestrovie has taken a neutral position?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
No, there was no criticism. On the contrary, I hear approval. We are an example of how one can live in a multinational state. I know many Ukrainians who have come to visit acquaintances, friends, live with them or rent apartments. They come to understand our philosophy, to the idea that here it is – a multinational state, a small one, but there are Russians, Moldovans, Ukrainians, people of other nationalities – representatives of 72 nationalities, and everyone cultivates their own language, their own culture. No one steps on their traditions, their way of life that has evolved over the centuries on this earth. People calm down. I think we are the only state in the world that has all Russian and Ukrainian channels in its television broadcasting network. Please choose what you like. Look, analyze, compare. What problems? People don't compare with the TV broadcast network, people compare with the street, with their neighbor, with their friend, with people who walk around Tiraspol, Bendery, Slobodzeya, in any city. Do you understand? They draw their own conclusions – they come to the conclusion that we must live without aggression, we must respect our neighbor, so people respect the peace, our peace-loving position.
I will tell you something else. We will strictly suppress any encroachments on peace in society. If tomorrow someone says that Ukrainians will come and kill Russians, he will guaranteed go to jail. If the day after tomorrow someone says that the Russians will come and kill Ukrainians, he will sit in the same cell. This is unacceptable and impossible in Pridnestrovie. They are either idiots or deliberate extremists. Either they need to be treated, or deprived of freedom.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
When you know and understand your history, you can foresee the future. If we compare the situation that is happening now in the world and in which Pridnestrovie is also involved, indirectly or directly, with what historical period can it be compared?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
It is very important to know the history. I would put history first in terms of understanding the world. You can disagree with me, but I consider that history is an exact subject, the same as mathematics or physics. It is completely clear that history is cyclical if you carefully study history, you can even calculate and predict the future by and large. If we take the history of our region 200 years ago or a little more. 1812. The Bucharest peace treaty changed the borders of the region, annexed Bessarabia to the Russian Empire. Catherine founded the city of Tiraspol - the center, the fortress before that, in 1792. What were the historical events then? The Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 that ended with a peace treaty – the Treaty of San Stefano, the Berlin Treaty, that changed the borders of the states surrounding us. Then the First World War, the October Revolution that made their own adjustments. Then the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War changed the way of life or the boundaries of the territory. The collapse of the Soviet Union broke a certain harmony then. I have always said that the spiral of history does not end there. There will be development. What we are seeing today is the next round, the next stage of historical events called “geopolitical catastrophes”.
What I would like to draw attention to. The boundaries of the territory change of course, but the people live, the people are by and large as were. Whatever the pressure on the people, the people survive. That’s the name of the Pridnestrovian people. Catherine II laid the foundation for the formation of today's Pridnestrovian people. Why? Yes, because it was then, at the end of the 18th century and after Catherine the Great – at the beginning of the 19th century, that this territory was given to people of different nationalities, different nationalities – both for Russians, and for Ukrainians, and for Belarusians, and for Germans, and for Jews. All were given land and freedom. Therefore, a lot of people appeared here, for example, Moldovans who left the Ottoman port, went to freedom, where the right to life was guaranteed. The Pridnestrovian people was formed then, its core, that has survived to this day. Therefore, I have always said and will repeat the following: it does not matter where we are, it is important who we are, yes. We are a multinational Pridnestrovian people who love their history. We understand it, form an attitude within society, respect the history of our ancestors. No matter how difficult it is, we must survive as a people, and we will survive, and we will live on this earth. How this whole story called "geopolitical catastrophe" will end, time will tell.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, international recognition is one of our national ideas. You said that the status of Pridnestrovie changed after geopolitical catastrophes. Can we get international recognition without tragedy? Or is it unavoidable?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I said even at the initial stage of my presidency that I definitely expect the recognition of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, its statehood, but I really would not want this recognition to be obtained through bloodshed. Pridnestrovie has already shed its blood. We paid this bloody debt. I don't know what to call it. This is a tragedy that we had. Enough is enough. We will get recognition, I have no doubt about it. But it will be harmonious and not connected with the death of people. It is necessary in any case to pray for it. For all of us.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
There are statements in your quote book that it is necessary to form a cultural space, that being determines consciousness. If we look over the past few years, parks, sports grounds, squares have begun to rise instead of wastelands, instead of landfills, instead of some abandoned sites. The Catherine Park in Tiraspol and the Alexander Nevsky Park in Bendery – it's just a Mecca in Pridnestrovie. Although, some people had doubts that it could be implemented. But we set the task, and the task was completed.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Parks even change people. When you get to the Catherine Park, you don’t want to throw out the extra, a piece of paper, because it’s clean everywhere. If you read "versts of time" - you will become interested in history and go to read, to study this moment more deeply. That is, the park is an infrastructure, but it makes a person a little better it would seem.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Do all these changes change the consciousness of Pridnestrovians, do they form the so-called cultural code?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I will give my opinion. We must return to our roots, our origins. In fact, Pridnestrovie has a rich historical and cultural heritage, but under the influence of certain changes – time, certain ideologies – a layer of history along with culture was taken away from the people, forgotten somehow, put on a shelf. This is wrong. We must see history. We must absorb this culture and return to it. We do not need to invent anything new, everything has been invented before us. We must return to this culture. This is what I agree completely with. We can't talk about beauty around humpbacked asphalt, dilapidated buildings, destroyed objects. It's not just the park of course. The park is an element of culture. This includes personal culture, upbringing, schools, kindergartens, additional education, sports, and social amenities. This is about people in general. When we get this cultural society, society will give birth to geniuses, and great leaders, and highly cultured people, and athletes, and officials. We are growing here and we are shaping ourselves. Therefore, the emphasis was placed on a return to the culture, to the history that we had. Please pay attention, people take it with a bang, people want it, people are proud of it, people tell everyone who comes here about it. We have a magnificent Pridnestrovie with a rich history. You can talk about it and talk for hours. Therefore, we will continue to move in this direction for sure.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, here we are talking about the cultural upbringing of society, that steps are being taken in this direction, but the vandals remain. Not everyone takes care of what they have unfortunately even in the Catherine Park. The site in Balka microdistrict is also regularly broken. What to do with it?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Please, do not faint, do not hysteria, you know. People need to be educated. This is a long process. This is not a short process, it is long by and large. It takes 5, 10, 15, 20 years. This is the generation. A generation must be brought up in these conditions, and then there will be a result. I will not say that everything is so bad. There are some cases, of course. Everything happens. It also happens, you know, a person does it out of spite, he is annoyed by beauty. Such people, unfortunately, exist. He needs to do it: throw a piece of paper there, ruin something. Everything happens in this life. Nevertheless, I will say this: for the most part, the vast majority of people are focused precisely on beauty and want to live in a beautiful society, in a beautiful state. We will also overcome this.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
If we are talking about the individual and society formation as a whole, the question arises. It may be somewhat philosophical. There is a theory that a person needs to close basic needs first of all. It is difficult for him to think about something sublime, when a person thinks about how to feed family, about his daily bread, when he has no roof over his head and he is stuck in his life's difficulties and problems. He thinks about his daily bread. People at all times tried to equalize, to make the rich and the poor equal. We know how it ended, the Pridnestrovian land had such an experience when it was part of a large state. Is it possible in your opinion to find harmony in this issue?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
You should probably always try. Harmonious relationships are formed by both wealthier people and less wealthy people. It all depends on the approach to this wealth. I consider that everyone should receive according to their work. Equalization is not useful as history itself has already shown, let's say. If we talk about history, there will always be people who are both rich and less well off. It is important how a person manages this wealth. There was the World Cup. There are also a lot of rich people who are playing. This is fine. I saw on TV or on the Internet a commentary by one football player - Sadio Mane. This is the player of Senegal, rich man. He played in Liverpool, plays for Bayern. He says that he doesn’t need ten yachts, two private planes, 30-40 cars or ten watches on each hand. One is enough for him, that’s enough. What does he use his financial resources for? He built a hospital in his native village, built a school, built children's sports grounds, invested in the development of children, financed operations, and so on. Saves people. I give you a guarantee that his name will remain in Senegal, not because he was a great football player, and not because he is a rich man, but because he is a philanthropist and invests in his neighbor. Patronage in general is an interesting topic and has a rich history since the time of the Roman Empire. There is a city of Augsburg in Germany. The richest man in the world lived there. He is still considered the richest man in the world. Jakob Fugger (his surname is translated differently). He was a banker, worked in copper mines, mined silver, doesn't matter. There was wealth. Imagine, 500 years ago, a man built a center – a large shelter that operates to this day. I was on an excursion in this city, I saw it with my own eyes, I was interested. The center includes three-story red brick houses, a whole area for the poor. The rent was then and remains – 88 euro cents for today's money, that is, a person pays 88 euro cents a year and lives completely on security. He is kept there, he does something there, there is a roof over his head, there is shelter and care of society. He left a memory of himself not because he was the richest man in the world (this is a statistic), but because he built this center for the disadvantaged, low-income people. If we take the history of patronage again, we must definitely remember the history of the Russian Empire. At that time, patrons did not measure the length of yachts, or the number of football clubs bought outside the Russian Empire, or other property outside the Russian Empire, no. They measured the number of hospitals, shelters, special homes for disadvantaged people – patronage, in a word. We know entire dynasties of patrons: Golitsyns, Mamontovs, Shchedrins and many others. The Pirogov Hospital is the first clinical hospital in Moscow, a magnificent complex of buildings that was built in 1802 by Prince Golitsyn as a free hospital for the poor. They built, they maintained it. They did not boast of it at all, as they say at the same time. There was this philanthropic and competitive spirit. People sought to invest their money not only in their personal pocket, but also in society as a whole. I hope that this history of philanthropy, the good tradition of philanthropy will form a good projection on modern Russia and on Pridnestrovie. We have people who have more and less. I want to talk about that too. We have, for example, the "Sheriff". Its leaders are not fond of talking about their achievements in the field of philanthropy. But why not name them if I name Fugger or Golitsyn? Why not name our philanthropists and indicate their contribution? "Sheriff" company has built an orphanage in 2003, patronized by the company. That's millions of dollars. Children are there on the full support of the company, receive education. The orphanage is located in the city of Tiraspol. Large investments are being made by the company in healthcare: a new modern building of our Republican Clinical Hospital has been built (construction and equipment - approximately 3 million USD), 20 ambulances have been purchased. They support children's sports with their Football Academy, support pensioners with products or certain amounts of money, and support students. They invest in roads. Everyone probably noticed that the roads have become better in Tiraspol, much better than they were. Those historically problematic roads that were always "sick" – Karl Liebknecht, or Lukovo (sewer hatch) Street as it was called. This is also a contribution. This is also big money. It's millions of dollars. This is good. I am glad that not only the "Sheriff" company is distinguished by this in Pridnestrovie. The pandemic has demonstrated the desire of people to invest in solving the problem that has arisen in society. These are Hi-Tech, Interdnestrcom, IntercenterLux, Odema, a number of our provisional organizations and just citizens who donated money, poured financial assistance to the state and people into the general stream. It's fine. Therefore, I say once again that there are both rich and poor, but there is also a desire to do good for one's neighbor, of course. It doesn't matter how much, the main thing is that there is a desire. I hope that this formula will continue in Pridnestrovie in the future.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, you said that the state should be judged not only by clean streets and parks, but also by how the state treats people with special needs. We know your position. How do officials, ordinary people, treat it? Do they hear you, accept it?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
This is not a matter of one day. This is a long-term job. Both children and adults suffer from certain diseases, they are limited in some way unfortunately. The main thing here is to create decent conditions for them, to employ them, to involve them as much as possible in the existing society, so that they are constantly next to us. Here is the most important task. We cannot do this without financial expenses of course. If we are talking about the Capital Investment Fund, then we have invested about 80 million rubles over the past five years in the development of infrastructure for people with special needs. What did we do? We built centers, we renovated old buildings, we built sports facilities. We built specialized centers (in Tiraspol, in Bendery, in Dubossary) – specifically for people with special needs. For example we built a gym as part of the Yubileiny sports complex, in Rybnitsa. They built a football field, a hall for children, a gym. We came to an understanding that we need to make a hall for people with special needs, but together. A separate hall, but together with the rest, so that healthy people, people with disabilities, and children can be together. It's fine. This is also socialization. I arrived in Rybnitsa just a couple of weeks ago, and the tennis competition was just taking place. There were some conferences in the same rooms. Many people – children and adults – participated in these competitions. These competitions were held jointly. You see, people feel like one whole. Perhaps, this is the most beautiful, this is what we should strive for.
We do not stop even in these difficult times for the economy. We finished in Rybnitsa, we continue to build a sports center in Dubossary. I have already said, and you repeated this idea, that the characteristics of states are made up not only and not so much of the number of amenities, good roads, tourism or even beautiful temples, but of the attitude towards people who are deprived of the opportunity to express themselves 100 percent due to their physical features. Our goal is to help these people realize themselves in society. No matter how difficult it is, we will find the strength, time, money, and attention for this.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Creating a comfortable and safe environment is also an element of the formation of a cultural space. This is one of the tasks of the Development Strategy of Pridnestrovie until 2026. We see and you have already mentioned the difficult economic situation. Vadim Nikolayevich, how far are we now lagging behind the strategic plan and will we cope with the tasks set in the four years that remain?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Well, how can I tell you, first of all, the basic principles have been written down and approved in this strategic plan. There will be another plan – the base will remain. These are political stability, economic self-sufficiency and social justice. In addition, our state idea (not national, since there can be no national idea in a multinational state) that is also clearly indicated there. There are specific tasks for ministries and departments, of course. I will say this: we are now following the outline of this plan for the most part. I remember how much criticism there was that the strategy was for 8 years. 4 years passed. The ideas are clearly defined, the principles are clearly defined, there is planning. We'll live another 4 years. Then we'll create another plan. For 8, 10, 15, 20 years, I don't know. I like states that plan their lives. There are those who plan for 100, 200 or 300 years. Of course, we cannot afford to plan for such a long historical period, but we must do it at least for 8, 10 years, no matter how difficult it may be. We live according to a certain plan, achieve goals, follow the principles that are indicated there.
As for the relationship with people, if you look at the eight-year plan, it is very socialized. Everything is directed to the benefit of the people by and large. You know, one can talk a lot about attitudes towards people, about love for people, even about socialism, about communism. It doesn't matter what. The real relation to the real person, to society is estimated. I will now turn to the Capital Investment Fund. There can be no normal attitude towards people where hospitals are collapsing, roofs are leaking in medical institutions, where citizens are deprived of basic access to medicine due to the remoteness of settlements from centers, where it is cold in schools, where there are no amenities, where there is poor food in kindergartens, where the infrastructure of housing and communal services is not being repaired, there are no sports grounds and parks. You can agitate even in an armored car for a better future. All this will be depressing. The attitude towards people will remain a good slogan if nothing is done. The Capital Investment Fund is aimed to the maximum at showing respect for a person, creating decent living conditions. By the way, about 520-530 objects have been built and repaired over the five years of the existence of the Capital Investment Fund. This is a big figure for Pridnestrovie. These are 75 schools, 78 kindergartens, 54 healthcare facilities, about a hundred cultural, entertainment and sports facilities, more than 30 parks. This is a huge investment in housing and communal services that was inherited from the Soviet Union, fell into disrepair, breathed its last. Thanks to the Soviet government that gave us this opportunity, but everything has its time. Why not to invest? We have invested about 1.3 billion rubles in the Capital Investment Fund over 5 years. Approximately a billion rubles in housing and communal services. This gives its result. This is the attitude towards people. When a child goes to kindergarten, and it is warm there, this is a plus, this is an attitude towards him, towards the child. When a student goes to school, and the roof does not leak, a warm, cozy office is also a big plus. When a person goes to the hospital, and there is good food and affordable medicine, this is also a big plus. But it's a big job. Not the President personally, the whole team. If someone thinks that the President of the Capital Investment Fund is in control there, and only because of this order, then no. This is a wrong perception. All heads of administrations work, all ministers work, welders, carpenters, builders who are engaged in this work, designers work. This is a great team and a great result, aimed at the person, at the attitude.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, the Strategy for the Development of Pridnestrovie contains a plan for the development of agriculture. The next year, 2023, is the Year of the Agro-Industrial Complex, Rural Territories and Rural Tourism. Why was such a choice made? Will cities receive less attention than villages in 2023?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Of course not. I love the rural way. As the great composer Glinka said, we do not invent music, we collect and arrange it, but the people create music, you know. He said this a long time ago. The culture of the people in fact is formed precisely by the rural way of life. Culture, literature, language are formed by traditions, the rural way of life. City life – arranges it. Therefore, we will not have our Pridnestrovian flavor without a rural way of life. If we talk about the cultural code, what is presented at various festivals. My wife and I walked around Tiraspol with a baby carriage 7-8 years ago, then with my daughter without baby carriage, we walked along this humpbacked asphalt, walked through the wasteland, through the territory of the future Catherine Park and talked about plans. This was our common dream – to create a park there. Not only there, everywhere. So that every day off was a festival: music, songs sounded, groups of different nationalities, different nationalities performed, life was in full swing.
I remember one family. They were from the territory of the former Soviet Union. They were proud of their city. They talked about it passionately. They shared how wonderful it is that every weekend there are fairs, festivals, groups. Wonderful! They were proud of it. I knew very well that if we did this, our people would also be proud. This is also education, this is a return to culture, to that historical culture that has always existed in Pridnestrovie. Five years have passed. There are festivals every day off – on Friday, Saturday, Sunday in every city, every district, including the Catherine Park. There is affordable catering. For example, a traditional wine festival is held in all cities and regions. Who is represented? All of our people are represented. Not only Moldovans make wine, Russians do, and Ukrainians and Bulgarians. Everyone makes wine. Drinking a glass of wine is also our culture. You don't have to get drunk. A little bit, for the holiday, for the mood. This is great. You are energized and proud when you attend these events, when you create infrastructure for children and adults. I am personally proud of Pridnestrovie! If I am proud, probably the majority of the population of our republic is proud. This desire is the goal, and it has been achieved. Imagine removing everything that has been done in five years. No festivals, no this music, no this color, only on Republic Day on September 2 that's it. That’s horror. We will not return to this. There is no need to listen to anyone. Criticism: time is not time. There must always be time. There must be time to come to the studio, there must be time to sweep the streets, and there must always be time to work for the good.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, our culture is in the villages, but why are we still developing agriculture, why is it important for Pridnestrovie?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Following the Development Strategy of our state, there is a principle of self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency, it is, including, in elementary foodstuffs. The world may eventually develop in such a way that the price, the unit of measure will not be important, but the main thing will be that it be on our shelves. Pridnestrovie is a rich land. People who want to work on this land. I said in 2016-2017: can't we create what is necessary for the needs of people living in Pridnestrovie, do you remember? This is a lot of work. This is the development of the land, this is a prudent attitude towards this land. This is melioration, of course. I constantly talk about melioration. We had nine thousand hectares of irrigated land by 2017, now we have more than thirty thousand hectares of irrigated land. At the same time, we had sixty thousand hectares of irrigated land in Soviet Union. We have what to strive for. There is a different production, different technologies, a different harvest now. Thirty thousand hectares today of irrigated land yield a crop on par with, perhaps, fifty thousand in Soviet times. There are other technologies. It is necessary to approach it more technologically so that each square meter gives more crops, more opportunities to grow food there when there is little land.
Here are the indicators: we have self-sufficiency in vegetables, in meat products, our meat processing plants, our meat industry are working. We have a shortage of chicken eggs, but that's okay, there is room to move and room to grow. We were able to increase the production of everything we need in general. If God forbid that, we will provide our people with affordable food. People must understand at the same time that if ours does not mean free. This also has its price. We must pay taxes, we must pay salaries, we must provide the land with everything necessary. If Pridnestrovian, then what? Cheap? Or free? This is the wrong approach. We will simply ruin our agriculture in this situation. This already happened when there was a surplus appraisal, when fixed prices were set, then the rural way of life was destroyed. What did it lead to? To hunger. We've been through it all. We won't be like that. We are definitely in control. We have categories of essential products, where the state influences pricing. Nevertheless, we must give the rural peasant an opportunity to develop and make a profit. They must at the same time form affordable credit lines, they must provide affordable energy sources (water, gas, electricity). We do it. We must not increase taxes too much. We must give the opportunity for development. This should not be done for five years. It's in preferential mode. This must always be done. To subsidize every liter of milk delivered for production, to subsidize every bred heifer in rubles. Bred heifer is a cow that is imported to Pridnestrovie. The state returns to the owner 50% of its value at the expense of the budget. This is a big complex that brings results. This is also culture, this is the preservation of the rural way of life, including the village.
If we talk about rural areas, then we need to save the school, kindergarten, and repair the Houses of Culture, of course. The Houses of Culture have become centers of the village, cultural centers where Houses of Culture have been repaired, and we have repaired about twenty of them over these five years. Do you understand? It is necessary to build temples, feldsher-obstetric stations, rural outpatient clinics. Medicine must be accessible. It's a difficult process, but we're doing it. It seems to be difficult at first glance, but when planned, everything is clear. Follow this plan, control and get your result in the end.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
If we continue the topic of priorities, the outgoing 2022 was declared by your decree the Year of Health, 2020 was the Year of Health. How does the state fight for every citizen in this regard if we are talking about the topic of health? Optimization in medicine – is it just part of this struggle for the health of everyone?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Of course, this is an integrated approach. You know, it is no longer a struggle for health; it is a necessity when a person goes to the doctor. We must think about health by educating our children, distracting them from bad habits, introducing them to sports, to beauty, to art. This is health, including intellectual health in principle. This is such a big integrated approach, including sports, definitely. I remember, mothers said that the child is sitting at the computer, it does not come out from games earlier. Wait a second, but the child has to go somewhere. Please note that when we build large sports facilities (football, basketball, volleyball, workout, tennis), young people gather there. There are people who are older, but the vast majorities are young people. Give this child the opportunity to prove himself before demanding from a child. That's all, everything is very simple.
For example, "Leather ball". We are talking about the development of mass sports. We held the tournament last year and this year. The final games will be next year. We have about 430 teams participating of the "Leather ball". Every city, every district, somewhere there are around 240-250 boys' teams and 170 girls' teams. The number is growing. There are thirty more girls' teams this year than last year. There is a desire of girls to play football. How they charged, emotionally play!
We rowed on dragon boats, ten-seat canoes. It's also very democratic. A person who had nothing to do with rowing, and maybe even sports, but literally 2-3 or five workouts, and he can already race, row, charge with a competitive spirit and is ready to win. Do you understand? We had thirty teams in the last competition. We plan to hold the following competitions in June. There will be fifty or sixty teams. We will spend three or four days. Let there be at least a hundred teams – for God's sake. It's democratic and classy. This is a healthy lifestyle. Even drinking half a glass of wine is also a healthy lifestyle, of course, on the recommendation of a doctor, without abuse. This is also normal. Extremes are always harmful. You see. Professional sports are extreme. Although people are also charged, they are doing it, they are striving for Olympic medals, but professional sports are already a profession. There are some downsides to this for health as well. Not playing sports is also an extreme. There must be a golden mean, and this is mass sport. But where there is mass sport, there will definitely be champions. For example, the outgoing 2022, it was difficult year. The pandemic has not been over yet, the war, the logistics are disrupted, nevertheless, we held about six hundred republican and municipal competitions in Pridnestrovie. Our athletes went to competitions outside the state 128 times, won about 50 gold, about the same number of silver, about the same number of bronze medals. These are world, European championships, open championships in various sports. A small state, but what the potential. I say once again that we do not need to invent. We must remember, raise, provide and support.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, all infrastructural processes require financial resources, money. For example, there was a situation with an energy crisis, with a shortage of gas, when in October-November our enterprises were forced to stop because there was no gas. Moldova simply did not allow it to pass in the required volumes. The largest taxpaying enterprises stopped to ensure that Pridnestrovians had warmth in their homes, that there was light, so that an ordinary Pridnestrovian would be comfortable at home. The enterprises stopped. These are deductions to the budget, that is, the state is losing money. What are the losses in this budget, how seriously our economy has suffered, is there a danger that the situation with gas will repeat again?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
It is necessary to negotiate in order not to happen again. We are doing this. What happened – a lesson. That’s the lesson for us, the lesson for Moldova. Moldova acted extremely imprudently, in my opinion. The philosophy of some Moldovan politicians is surprising in general – when they took the total gas that is supplied to Moldova from the Russian Federation, and divided it according to the number of citizens living. This is nonsense, this is ridiculous. I'll explain why.
Pridnestrovie, for example, we are an agrarian-industrial state. It is a fact. We managed to largely preserve the Soviet industrial potential in Pridnestrovie, even in the conditions of non-recognition. We managed not only to save, but by and large to restart through investments and re-equipment. All the potential would probably also go nowhere without investments. We have preserved and increased. Almost the entire industrial potential of the Soviet Union was either destroyed or looks extremely bad in Moldova, unfortunately. Naturally, the number of industrial enterprises dictates the consumption of energy resources. Therefore, we consume more gas than Moldova. This is normal – in terms of industrial production, that's all. I can bring other European states or, for example, the United States of America. There, for example, California consumes more gas than Nevada or Texas because there is a completely different level of industry, which is represented in certain states, in certain states. In addition, almost all of our residents' houses are gasified. This is also gas consumption. We lived in step with the times, we did not squander the legacy of our ancestors, the legacy of the Soviet Union, we invested and have a good result.
The fact that there was a problem in energy, yes, it was. God forbid, it will no longer be. We are working in any case to ensure that it does not exist. These are certain difficulties, these are stages. There is no need to get hysterical. This is a definite lesson, this is science, and this is the knowledge that we receive, including by solving certain problems.
I have already told people and I want to repeat once again: when it is difficult, I will tell about it, I will definitely say it. There is no need to listen to some speculation, some speculators who sit on the Internet and argue, I don’t know what. It will be difficult, I will say. There were difficulties, I openly stated this, explained why it happened. It will continue to be. The problems that Pridnestrovie faces, they temper us, teach us. There is nothing terrible. We should always use things sparingly. This is fine. You see, we save not at the expense of people. People have been paying and will continue to pay for energy in the price components that were in the current year. We had to save at the expense of industrial production. This is also a lesson for us, an experience of how to save money in a given situation. The situations are different.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, when Moldova took away gas from Pridnestrovie, you gave an interview to the Parliamentary Newspaper and picked up a biting comparison of Moldova with Gogol's landowner Korobochka, who stored up for no reason, no idea for what, and so on. You quoted Brodsky in an interview with the Pridnestrovie newspaper later. What is literature for you? Is it release? Or do you read to gain information and knowledge?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Literature ... I'll start with this. What are people formed of? These are language and literature, history, ultimately, traditions. Literature, it also documents history. When a certain work is written, in any case it concerns history after all.
I love literature, I respect it, I love to read, I love to compare, of course. I will give one example of this, which is very interesting: the history of Pugachev, the Pugachev rebellion. We studied the history of this whole situation. Let's put it this way, in the schools under the Soviet Union they formed the image of Pugachev as a rebel, a person who thought about people, honest, uncompromising, like Robin Hood. I came across a work by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, namely the story of the Pugachev rebellion in the original, let's say so. The 1859 edition, it has not undergone any changes in my opinion. So, Alexander Sergeevich draws a completely different image – not Robin Hood, but a scoundrel on the contrary, a rogue, an impostor. This is clearly seen in the book. This is probably not the most important thing. Another thing is interesting. The very essence of why this happened in the Russian Empire is interesting. After all, the people would not follow him if Pugachev were alone, even if he was a rogue there, even if he declared himself a false Peter III and so on... There must have been some causal relationship. This is interesting to me from the point of view of history. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin clearly describee (it must be said that this was also in Soviet literature, this chapter was not removed). In general, the history of the Pugachev region historically also concerns Pridnestrovie. Pugachev in 1770 stormed the Bendery fortress in the ranks of the Don Cossack army.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Together with Kutuzov ...
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
No, together with Panin.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Kutuzov was in the ranks then.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
He was in the ranks, but commanded by General-in-Chief Panin Pyotr Ivanovich. He led the rebellion two years later, already in 1772-1773. But why did it happen? Why did the entire Urals, part of Siberia follow the rebels, why did they kill people en masse? There is an explanation for this. It's all about the elementary human factor, elementary management. What is the point? Kalmyks. The Kalmyk people are in fact an unfortunate people. They got it historically from the king-father, and from the Soviet government. The great tragedy of the Kalmyk people actually deserves a separate discussion. Nevertheless, that governor-general, that official who fed the Kalmyks, treated them badly, in an inappropriate way, infringed upon them for some reason. The Kalmyks turned to China (this is their historical homeland) with a request to return to their lands, and they were given such an opportunity. All this is described in the history of Pugachev. They collected 30 thousand tents then (they led a nomadic lifestyle) and began to move towards China. This was reported to Empress Catherine II – that a whole nation wants to leave from under your crown, they say. That's bad for the image. What did Catherine do? She acted, of course, recklessly, in my opinion. Instead of somehow trying to understand the reasons for not disturbing these people, she instructs the Ural Cossacks to suppress the Kalmyk rebellion. The Ural Cossacks refused to carry out this order, citing the fact that "they are ready to fight with the adversaries as they please, but we do not want to fight against our own people". Catherine was informed that the Ural Cossacks had already rebelled, they did not want to fulfill the order. She sends a punitive operation there. The rebellion was suppressed: someone was killed, someone was exiled, someone was sent to prison, etc. This is what gave rise to discontent. People immediately feel injustice. The rogue was found there – Emelyan Pugachev, who declared himself Peter III, just as Pushkin described. A skilled talker (now he would also apply himself on the Internet), he was able to gather the masses and lead them. The people followed him. The rebellion was crushed of course. Catherine the Great called on Suvorov and Panin to suppress the rebellion in 1774, just two generals who were in disgrace at the royal court. She understood that it was these people who could crush the rebellion, which was gaining momentum. General Panin and Suvorov spent more than one hour in conversations with Emelyan Pugachev when the rebellion was suppressed. Panin is a literate person, he was a versatile person, not only a military man. His brother was the chancellor of the Russian Empire. Panin tried to understand the causes of Pugachevism. He achieved an audience with Catherine II and told her how it really was when he came to an understanding, so as not to repeat this in the future. He said that an official is physically unable to cover all his territories with attention, but uses notes, rumors, unverified information and draws wrong conclusions. It is necessary to make sure that every official has the opportunity to cover the expanses of Russia. Russia was divided into 20 large subjects at that time. It was then that the provincial structure began, and 50 were immediately made, then even more. This model of the provincial structure allowed each official to control the situation and influence it correctly. Do you see the cause and effect relationships?
As for other writers, I consider Bulgakov one of the most brilliant writers. I respect his works. "White Guard", "Running", "Heart of a Dog", "Master and Margarita". A lot of philosophy, a lot of understanding of the tragedy of our great Motherland. There are a lot of projections today in fact: both in people and in states. You should find time for reading, of course. It must be found.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, what would you recommend to read? What books do you think every cultured person should read?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Bulgakov – definitely. Pushkin – definitely. Pikul – definitely. He has an understanding of the Great Patriotic War. One of Pikul's latest works "Barbarossa" is a great work that makes you understand, somehow rethink all the stages of the Second World War, the Great Patriotic War. And many others. Tastes differ. There are also modern writers, some detectives. The main thing is to give it time. You know, when books start to be thrown into a landfill, this is already a tragedy. This is not to be allowed.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Let's return to the cultural code and the ban on the Russian language. Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Sholokhov, Bulgakov are part of our Pridnestrovian cultural code. We see now that in the space close to Pridnestrovie, there is a ban on everything Russian-speaking. For example, six Russian-language channels were simply closed in Moldova recently. There was a ban on the St. George ribbon earlier. It was made on the birthday of Adolf Hitler. The paradox of the situation. Films about the Great Patriotic War, monuments to writers. They are being taken down. All this is being cancelled. It is impossible to be indifferent to this, but what does it all lead to, in your opinion?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
We are talking about history. We are talking about the graves of ancestors, defenders of the Fatherland. This is oblivion. I am deeply convinced that those states that do not remember their history, consign to oblivion their ancestors, their attributes of the victories of past years, they are doomed to historical exile, to self-liquidation. A lot of controversy around the St. George ribbon. Excuse me, if we take the history of the St. George ribbon, it came from Empress Catherine the Great. This is a symbol of valor and warriors, there were special orders, banners, pipes, sabers, etc. By the way, Panin is one of the first holders of the Order with the St. George ribbon for the capture of the Bendery fortress. It is surprising to hear all this when talking about the dump of history, of course. St. George Ribbon. If we take even the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, it was also, let's say, “wrapped” in this St. George ribbon. This is valor. Bulgaria gained independence, Romania gained full independence. The St. George ribbon should serve as a symbol of Victory and independence for these states along with their tricolor there, this is normal by and large. It's the same story. Therefore, people either do not know their history or do not want to know. We will remember history and unequivocally treat it correctly.
Regarding the language, to destroy the language means to destroy the people. I am against the destruction of both the Russian language and the Ukrainian language, it exists, of course, and the Moldovan language, it also exists. That's all. We will study, approach this from the historical and creative side in our multinational state. Due attention will be paid to this as long as Pridnestrovie exists. This is really the basis. I do not want to judge everyone who does this, God is the judge of everyone, but they do not understand what they are doing, they are simply destroying their historical statehood. That's all.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
History will put everything in its place.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I don't doubt it.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, how do you find out the news? Television, websites, telegram channels, YouTube? What are you reading, what are you watching?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I draw this or that information in each resource, everywhere, a little bit. Well, probably mostly on the Internet. I watch news channels on the Internet. You don't always have time to watch TV. It is necessary by and large to use any source of information. This is fine.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
It is difficult to say that the news is always very pleasant, especially lately. Vadim Nikolaevich, your wife once said that when you want to escape from worries, everyday life, some difficulties, watch the Hunting and Fishing channel. We know at the same time that you love to cook. The New Year is ahead. Do you have a signature dish that you would like to cook? Will you take part?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Well, of course. Our traditional New Year's specialty is jellied meat.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
A wonderful dish.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
There are many recipes of jellied meat, but what is your secret?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Yes, there is no secret. A good rooster, a good broth – a good jellied meat.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
And good mood.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
And good mood! Of course, there are other traditional dishes that are put on the New Year's table, including tangerines. Although this is not a dish, but nevertheless it is part of our New Year's holiday. Cooking, food, some dishes is really an outlet, you know, some kind of psychological relief in fact. Therefore, my wife and I love to cook together, and we are successful in this – both good and release.
Nikita Kondratov, First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, if we talk about vents, then it is, of course, football this year for Pridnestrovians. We have already talked about the World Cup, touched on this topic, but the Sheriff football gave us a football holiday for the second year in a row. Unfortunately, the games were held in Chisinau, we could not see Cristiano Ronaldo and his signature goal celebration in Tiraspol. You did not miss a single game of Sheriff in European cups, you came and watched last season. How is this year? What are your impressions of this European Cup?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
The impression is normal. You know, reaching the spring season of the Europa League is a very good result for the Sheriff football club, even though the play-offs are not important. We can say that this is the 1/8 finals, 1/16, that's not the point. This is a great success and a big impetus for the development of sports and football in Pridnestrovie. Any victory of the Sheriff team indeed pushes young people to engage in this very good sport by and large. We as state are picking up this idea, building playgrounds, forming football teams, and so on. This is great progress. I am glad that Sheriff has created such a team, the team is successful and has good prospects.
The World Cup, I was pleased with the achievements of the middle peasants, such as, for example, the Morocco national team. Who spoke about them? But the semi-finalist, sorry, the World Cup. Some strong teams, when they are engaged in all sorts of nonsense, and not football, lose, like the German national team, for example, unfortunately lost. Although a powerful, interesting team. The Spanish team lost. Morocco won. The World Cup shows the success of those who work. How did they get on the field? They took to the field to win. They understood that they had a formidable opponent against them, but they did not go out to “roll up a draw”, somewhere “to dive on penalties”, but to win. They did everything. Philosophy must be exactly the winner, and then there will be a result. The Sheriff team has such a philosophy – to win, so they have their own result.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Discipline beats class.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Yes, of course, one hundred percent.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Let me bring the conversation back to New Year's Eve. This is a holiday that everyone is waiting for and love. What do you think is the secret, why is it so?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Well, this is our tradition first of all. The bright holiday of the Nativity of Christ, the New Year – historically they had a special attitude. We continue this tradition. This is especially for children. Probably everyone is waiting for some kind of magic, even adults. Santa Claus really exists, and everyone needs to understand and know this. This is Saint Nicholas. That’s all. Adults (children, it goes without saying) should know this miracle, or rather not know, but feel it and wait. Miracles are all around us. You just have to not be blind, live with love for your neighbor, and you will definitely feel this miracle. This is a dangerous thing, denying what you don't know. Do not rush to deny in fact, strive to understand.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, without what tradition the New Year is not the New Year for you?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Well, it's a family holiday exclusively. This is our most important tradition. Family. Yes, we gather. The New Year tree is for sure the attribute of the New Year holiday.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
I would like to ask about your children: where are they now, where do they live, what do they do?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
They live here, they work here. The son works at Interdnestrkom. My daughter works in the healthcare system as a resident. The youngest daughter goes to school in Bendery. Grandchildren go to kindergarten here, sometimes they get sick, well, like all children. Everyone is here, everyone is in Pridnestrovie.
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
The year ends. We always expect next year to be better. How can you still remain optimistic, continue to believe in the miracle you are talking about, where do you get your strength and energy from?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I have already spoken about the fact that every person is born to make life better. His or her life, of loved one, of people, of the state as a whole, depending on certain situations, of course. We must live with this thought, with love, faith and hope and strive for the best. I am convinced that this is salvation. Not only each person individually, but the state as a whole. The main thing is to clearly believe in it and know that everything is material, including thought. Think positive and strive for peace above all else. The rest is how it goes. Life is such an ambiguous thing. We must start with ourselves, personally. To make ourselves better in relation to neighbor. Everything will work, I'm sure, in a broader sense of the word – for the state as a whole, for society as a whole. More or less like this. It is an absolute philosophy indeed.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
At the end of our absolute philosophy, beautiful, in love, Vadim Nikolaevich, what would you like to wish all Pridnestrovians in the New Year?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Of course, peace. This is the basic constituent. The year 2022 proved that human life is a value that must be protected and we must strive for peace no matter how difficult it is. Therefore, peace to Pridnestrovie, of course. Health to every Pridnestrovian. Good work. Prosperity. Well, recognition, of course, recognition of our statehood.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Thank you so much!
Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Thank you! It was broadcast with the President. We discussed a lot, not only pressing problems, but also talked about the spiritual.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Happy New Year! We wish you peace, health and of course love.
