Sandu accuses Kremlin of provoking energy crisis in Transnistria
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that the Kremlin provoked the energy crisis in Transnistria by cutting off gas supplies due to Gazprom's breach of contractual obligations.
She said this on January 14 at a press conference after a meeting of the Supreme Security Council, Censor.NET reports citing News Maker.
According to her, Chisinau has been trying to provide humanitarian aid to Tiraspol since November, but it was rejected by the local administration.
"This is not Tiraspol's refusal, but the Kremlin's. Tiraspol does not decide whether it can accept this aid or not. It is quite obvious that the Kremlin is behind this irrational refusal," Sandu said at a press conference.
She also noted that this is not an energy crisis, as there are alternative routes through which gas can be delivered, as other countries that also received Russian gas through Ukraine do.
Sandu noted that the refusal of humanitarian aid is part of Russia's strategy to destabilize the situation in Moldova. "Some people receive the same gas from Gazprom via other routes. Gazprom, or rather the Kremlin, did not want to fulfill its contractual obligations. The only goal is to cause discontent on the Left and Right banks and use energy resources as an element of destabilization," Sandu explained.
Sandu also confirmed that the "president" of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnosilsky, traveled to Moscow to discuss gas supplies to the region. "I know about Krasnosilsky's visit to Moscow. This is yet another proof that Chisinau is not preventing us from finding a solution. We want people on the left bank of the Dniester to have electricity, heating and water as soon as possible. And if this visit solves the problem, let it be solved," Sandu said.
Earlier it was reported that Ukraine is ready to supply coal to Moldova to help unrecognized Transnistria, which has been without heating since the beginning of the year due to the suspension of gas supplies by Russia.
