Tiraspol, February 19. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Banks of Moldova reported that all payments of Pridnestrovian companies from their accounts in Pridnestrovian banks would not be accepted from February 14, 2020. This was announced by the First Deputy Chairman of the Pridnestrovian Republican Bank (PRB) Alexey Melnik.
According to him, the economic agents of the PMR cannot currently pay for goods and services to Moldovan residents.
The Deputy Chairman of the PRB stated that that situation has been recorded for the first time in 30 years of interaction between the banking systems of Pridnestrovie and Moldova. So far, there have been no problems with calculations arisen. Moreover, all operations have been carried out in RM currency - Moldovan lei.
“We have recorded 9 cash refunds to our enterprises since the end of January 2020. These are both industrial enterprises and trade enterprises. By and large, there were carried out traditional operations, payments for goods and services, up to payment of periodicals to Moldova ... Moreover, 5 payments were returned to three large industrial enterprises of Pridnestrovie, which tried to replenish their own bank accounts opened in the Republic of Moldova,” Melnik said.
Moldova explains the situation with complicated anti-money laundering procedures. Melnik calls it absurd. The topic has been discussed for a year and a half, and the activities of Pridnestrovian enterprises are absolutely transparent.
“Our enterprises have been repeatedly offered options or working principles, on the basis of which Moldovan banks are ready to make payments. Our enterprises adapted to these principles: they provided certain information, provided data to comply with all procedures related to combating the laundering of proceeds from crime. All this work was carried out in a constant mode, moreover, all payments for these 8 months did go through. Moldovan partners, Moldavian banks have all the information about the payer, about the beneficiaries. The information necessary to confirm the transaction was provided more than once,” Melnik notes.
At the end of 2019, the trade turnover between Pridnestrovie and Moldova was $ 369 million. Of these, exports are $ 255 million, imports are about $ 120 million. The trade surplus in favor of Pridnestrovie is $ 135 million. 282 enterprises export to Moldova. The main enterprises of Pridnestrovie, MMZ and Moldovan Hydroelectric Power Station, are inextricably bound to trade with Moldova.
“We are forced to state that, despite all the efforts of international experts, international intermediaries and partners, unfortunately, Pridnestrovie once again faces certain difficulties in interacting with Moldovan banks,” Melnik notes.
According to the Deputy Chairman of the PRB, Moldova uses financial instruments to please political goals.
Recall: last summer, Moldova blocked a number of Pridnestrovian enterprises from opening bank accounts in the Republic of Moldova. Then there were problems with currency conversion. Today, there has been added a ban on payments.
