This is Transnistria, the region of Moldova that Russia wants to annex

Updated Thursday, February 29, 2024 – 11:21

Another area of ​​Europe that is under tension. The authorities of Transnistriaa pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova located between the eastern bank of the Dnister River and Ukraine, have requested “protection” from Russia in the face of alleged “pressure from the Moldovan government. With 1,500 Russian military personnel (on a peacekeeping mission) installed in this small territory close to war in Ukraine, any threat of hostility causes concern.

Moscow has already made it clear that “protecting” the “compatriots” of Transnistria is one of its “priorities.” According to the Transnistrian deputies, the region must be protected by the economic retaliation measures once morest the separatists launched by the Moldovan government.

WHAT IS TRANSNISTRIA AND WHERE IT IS LOCATED

Transnistria 2022

This piece of Eastern Europe has been a hot spot for more than three decades. Transnistria It is a region that occupies an area of 4,160 km2slightly less than half of the Madrid’s community. Is located in the East of the former Soviet Republic of Moldova, bordering Ukraine. Its capital is Tirspol and has a 12% of Moldovan territory.

In this territory it has barely half a million inhabitantsmostly Slavs and, according to the authorities, “more than 220,000 Russian citizens.”

In his flag red and green are drawn communist hammer and sickleand its president is Vadim Krasnoselsky, son of a Soviet soldier. He has an army and a currency, the Transnistrian rubleown.

Vadim Krasnoselsky, pro-Russian leader of Transnistria, before his deputies.AFP

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this Russian-speaking region proclaimed its secession and fought a short war once morest the Moldovan army between 1992 and 1993, counting on the help from russia. Even today, some 1,500 Russian soldiers remain to guarantee peace despite continuous requests from the UN.

After the conflict, Transnistria severed ties with Moldova, located between Romania and Ukraine. Moldaviarefuses to recognize independence and pressures to have a voice and vote in the industries and exports of the area, always with Russia in front. However, the reality is that little by little the Transnistrian government has been achieving more autonomy and more normality in its day-to-day life.

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And, as an example of this, there is sport. As we might see in 2021 in the Champions League, when Real Madrid traveled to Tirspolthe capital of the region, to face the Sheriff Tiraspolthe most important football club in the area.

EL MUNDO’s special envoy for that soccer match began his report with a description of the place: “In Tirspol there is barely of restaurants, leisure is a barbecue on the bank of the Dnister River and starting in October the sun sets following four in the followingnoon. In Tirspol Russian and some Romanian are spokenthe vast majority of the population works directly or indirectly for the companySheriff and when a family has enough money, their children go to Moscow to study.”

WHY RUSSIA IS INTERESTED IN TRANSNISTRIA

He 23% of Moldova’s industrial production takes place in this region. Furthermore, it is of interest transport infrastructure as well as the gas pipelines.

MOLDOVA, NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

Transnistrian police guard the border with Ukraine.DANIEL MIHAILESCUAfp

In 2006, a referendum was held in Transnistria that was not recognized by the international community. That consultation ended with a 97% of the votes in favor of independence and the union of the territory to Russia.

self-proclaimed Independent Republic of Transnistriais a territory not recognized by organizations and countries.

For its part, Moldaviawhose capital is The nose, does not belong to the European Union although the pass applied for admission in 2022. “Today we sign the application for accession of the Republic of Moldova to the EU,” the pro-European president declared then. Maia Sandu before signing the document.

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This does not imply that the EU and Moldova have not maintained relations. On July 1, 2016, the Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova with its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. An agreement that had been provisionally expanded since 2014.

In December 2023, the European Union decided to open accession negotiations with both Ukraine and Moldova.

Moldova does not belong to NATO either. Furthermore, the Moldovan constitution prohibits the country from joining a military alliance.

For its part, Transnistria is not recognized as a State by the international community, including Russia, which nevertheless considers it an outpost not far from the borders of the European Union.

Moldova and the European Union regularly accuse Moscow of wanting to destabilize that former Soviet republic, now with a firmly pro-European leadership.