Enlarge image

Russian wall propaganda in Tiraspol, the capital of the Transnistria region: Request for “protection”

Photo: Sergei Gapon / AFP

Breakaway Transnistria is reportedly seeking Russian assistance against its mother nation Moldova.

This is what Russian agencies report about a congress held in Transnistria.

Accordingly, the small region asked the Kremlin for “protection.”

Moldova is weakening the region economically through an imposed blockade.

According to the resolution adopted by the politicians present, Moscow is asked to "take measures to defend Transnistria in the face of increasing pressure from Moldova."

The situation in Transnistria has been tense for years.

Russia supports the separatist region of the Republic of Moldova, and Russian troops are also stationed there.

Moscow repeatedly provokes escalations in the Republic of Moldova, and with its border location with Ukraine, Transnistria is also in the immediate vicinity of war.

Transnistrian MPs now want to explore the situation with a special congress scheduled at short notice - a referendum on a possible annexation of Transnistria to Russia was also on the cards.

However, according to the Russian agency Tass, accession to Russia will not be applied for.

Life among Russian soldiers

The special congress is taking place for the first time since 2006.

This is only the seventh such meeting in the de facto self-governing region.

The self-proclaimed Republic of Transnistria is a narrow strip of land on the border with Ukraine that has broken away from Moldova since 1990. It has its own government and administration and has hosted Russian troops since 1992.

Around 1,500 Russian soldiers are stationed in the area that belongs to Moldova under international law.

Most people in Transnistria are Russian-speaking, and many of them also have Moldovan, Russian or Ukrainian citizenship.

There is a pro-European government in Moldova itself.

The former Soviet republic is worried about Russian destabilization.

President Maia Sandu has repeatedly accused Russia of planning a coup.

mrc/AFP/Reuters