Vadim Krasnoselsky gave an interview to the Izvestia multimedia information center. The printed version of the conversation has been published.
The Izvestia multimedia information center:
The events around Pridnestrovie are developing rapidly. There were reports earlier that the republic had gas reserves not for several days, but for several hours. How many hours of gas reserves are left at the moment, when we are talking?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
From the point of view of maintaining the gas transportation system and pressure in multi-story buildings in good technical condition, then it will be enough for about five more days. But if we are talking about heating citizens' homes and social facilities, then there is no gas in principle.
The Izvestia multimedia information center:
That is, if we take the normal operation of industry, heating, then it will not be enough in principle for even one day?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
The gas has already run out. That is, if such social facilities as hospitals (there are 11 of them), correctional institutions (there are more than 10 of them) were still heated by gas a week ago, today we have transferred these institutions to boiler diesel fuel, for example. We provide people with heat but through other sources, of course. There is no gas.
The Izvestia multimedia information center:
Reports began to arrive at the same time that stable gas supplies to the republic should resume very soon, for example, by February 1. What volumes are we talking about and how likely are these supplies? Are there any guarantees?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
There are ways of supply in fact. There are not even two or three, but many more. It is important for us to provide heat to people. The population of Pridnestrovie is suffering greatly. We have been without heat and the required amount of light and electricity for almost a month in winter.
Tiraspol sent a letter to Moldova on January 18, in which we agree with Kishinev's position: let Moldovagaz supply us with fuel in Pridnestrovie, we guarantee payment.
What happened next? Moldova has gas in its system, it has reserves by and large. They could have named a price to us, but this did not happen.
I met with OSCE Chairperson Elina Valtonen on January 9, she stated that the Moldovan leadership would not hinder the transit of gas to Pridnestrovie, including Russian gas. These are all just words. We see resistance and unwillingness to do this in reality. Then some Moldovan officials began to make corresponding statements. For example, Mr. Serebrian (Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian – Izvestia) said in an interview a week ago that Kishinev and Tiraspol should think about how to supply gas without Russia, without the Russian factor.
Then I visited Moscow. I met with officials of the Ministry of Energy, where we were offered options. We also offered ours. I saw sincere interest on the part of the department's representatives, for which I thanked them and thank them now.
The Russian Federation is giving us a loan at the same time. We are lending to Tiraspoltransgaz, and it will pay for the fuel supplied to Pridnestrovie. Negotiations are currently underway with Hungarian companies to supply us with gas with our payment, but there are technical deadlines within which the company checks the payment, and so on.
The Izvestia multimedia information center:
So, conditions are set that cannot be met initially? For example, the absence of the Russian factor. At the same time, Moldovan companies receive fuel from Gazprom, it cannot be excluded. The same with the peacekeepers: they cannot be simply replaced. Who in your opinion is behind this and who benefits from the humanitarian crisis in Pridnestrovie?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
I will remind you that the peacekeepers in Pridnestrovie are in accordance with the 1992 peace agreement signed by the presidents of Moldova and the Russian Federation. These forces include peacekeepers from Russia, Pridnestrovie and Moldova. This is a trilateral mission. The peacekeepers are here until the Pridnestrovian issue is fully resolved according to the agreement.
How can this be changed? This is a completely different institution, completely different legal relations. Moldovan politicians have tried to throw all the problems into one basket: peacekeepers, and the exclusion of the Russian factor, and so on. They contradict each other. Both the President of Moldova and the Prime Minister say that Gazprom should resume gas supplies to Pridnestrovie. Their political representative says that the Russian factor must be excluded. Do you understand? I am convinced that these are puzzles of one big picture called "Let's not supply gas to Pridnestrovie so that people suffer". These are their real goals.
That is why I openly accused the Moldovan leadership of discriminating against the population of Pridnestrovie on the basis of territory. Moldova is doing nothing to solve the problem. I would like to mention European aid, of course. The European Union is ready to provide €30 million to purchase gas for Pridnestrovie. It would be simply stupid to refuse any aid in such circumstances. We accept it with gratitude.
We ask for clarification on how this aid will be provided at the same time. I demanded an emergency meeting. Moldova, Pridnestrovie and the European Union were represented by officials. Mr. Borosan (State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Moldova Konstantin Borosan – Izvestia) said that Kishinev is not considering the possibility of transferring gas to Pridnestrovie for generating electricity at the Moldovan State District Power Plant. When asked where we would get electricity, he said, "We will supply it to you somehow". At the same time, if the GRES does not work, everything will drop, then Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, and, of course, Pridnestrovie will feel it. So our specialists went to Kishinev to explain this.
What can be said in conclusion? First, Moldovagaz officially refused to supply gas to Pridnestrovie at the end of December. Second, they forbid their Moldovan independent company to supply gas. Third, Moldovagaz does nothing to supply gas to Pridnestrovie. Fourth, they are dragging out negotiations with the Hungarian company. Fifth, they are discrediting European aid by creating insurmountable obstacles to gas supplies to Pridnestrovie.
I urge the Moldovan authorities to come to their senses, stop discriminating against the population of Pridnestrovie, and give people gas. We guarantee payment. They know this very well.
The Izvestia multimedia information center:
All these blockages of EU aid, mutually exclusive statements by the Moldovan authorities indicate that they simply want to harm your republic? That is, they understand that the consequences will affect them too, but they are delaying the process nevertheless. What are they trying to achieve?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
You know, it is still a question of whether they understand. Nevertheless, we still need to look at their actions starting from the January holidays. We were preparing for this crisis, four years ago we began serious preparations. We bought powerful generators for all medical, correctional and social institutions two years ago.
A clear administrative vertical was actually built in order to minimize the consequences of the energy crisis in December. What did Moldova do? It simply attacked us with information, blaming Russia, blaming us, the Pridnestrovian authorities. I am convinced: they were confident that we would not cope, we would break down, the people would be against the authorities and would take to the streets. That is, they essentially generated mass unrest.
I am also convinced that Moldova is using this crisis against the people, against the government, against Pridnestrovie. This is a fact. This is what the events that have happened even in the last month say.
The Izvestia multimedia information center:
The plan that Kishinev is proposing to resolve the situation is unclear, there are conflicting statements. What plan is Russia proposing? Is Moscow doing enough to help you in this situation?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
I have already said that Russia has provided us with a loan, thanks to which we will be able to pay for gas. At the same time, Russia is not imposing any formulas on who to buy gas from. They listen to us and welcome our decision. Russia is doing everything possible to make this happen.
The Izvestia multimedia information center:
You talked about how people are suffering. What is the damage to industry? Have you already calculated what this will result in?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
Of course, we will have losses as a result of the shutdown of industrial enterprises. It is possible to go beyond the budget. In principle, January is not over yet, it is too early to sum up the results, but it will be tens of millions of dollars a month falling out of the budget. This is a lot for us. The energy and economy are in a state of shock. The state of emergency will be extended.
The Izvestia multimedia information center:
It is reported that the OSCE will seek progress in the Pridnestrovian settlement. Do you expect any progress this year, specific actions from this organization?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
We will see, life will show. I still think that we should focus on leveling the energy crisis. We need to get out of it, give people the basic benefits of civilization: heat and light, and then talk about other aspects.
