The authorities of Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova, asked Russia on Wednesday February 28 for "protective measures" in the face of the "increased pressure" that they believe is being exerted by Chisinau, against a backdrop of tensions exacerbated by the conflict in Neighboring Ukraine.

Russian diplomacy quickly responded, ensuring that it had as a “priority” the “protection” of the inhabitants of Transnistria and adding that Moscow would “carefully examine” Tiraspol’s request, without giving further details.

The Moldovan government, for its part, said it "rejects the propaganda" of separatist leaders and affirmed that the region benefits from "policies of peace, security and economic integration" within the framework of its links with the European Union.

A familiar scenario

The sequence of these events, however, is reminiscent at the current stage of the similar one in February 2022, when the call from pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine was then one of the pretexts put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin to trigger a large-scale attack against this country.

MPs from Transnistria met in Tiraspol for an extraordinary congress and called on the Russian Parliament to "implement measures to protect" this small territory where "more than 220,000 Russian citizens" live in the face of "increased pressure from of Moldova.

Transnistria faces “unprecedented threats of an economic, socio-humanitarian and military-political nature”, it is written in their statement.

Transdniestria, pro-Russian separatist territory © Valentin RAKOVSKY, Sabrina BLANCHARD / AFP

The separatist Foreign Minister, Vitali Ignatiev, clarified on the Russian television channel Rossiya-24 that it was "first of all to ask for diplomatic support" from Moscow.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said "the United States strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders."

The first European country to officially react, Poland, through its Prime Minister Donald Tusk, deemed the tensions in the region “dangerous”.

In kyiv, Ukrainian diplomacy warned against any “destructive external interference” in Transnistria.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called for "a peaceful resolution of economic, social and humanitarian issues between (Moldova) and (Transnistria), without any destructive external interference", a barely veiled allusion to Russia.

“We are doing and will continue to do everything possible to (...) prevent any attempt by Russia to destabilize Moldova or other countries in our region,” added the ministry, while calling for “the rapid withdrawal of troops Russians" from Transnistria.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Albania for a summit of leaders of Southeast European states, said he met with his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu, with whom he discussed "recent developments in the Moldovan region of Transnistria, Russia's efforts to destabilize the region and effective means to counter the harmful influence of the aggressor state.

Accusations of “genocide”

A narrow strip of land between Moldova and Ukraine, Transnistria seceded after a short war in 1992 against the Moldovan army.

Russia still maintains 1,500 soldiers there, intended in particular to carry out a peacekeeping mission, according to official figures.

But since the Russian assault of February 2022 against kyiv, conjectures have regularly resurfaced about a possible Russian attack from Transnistria towards the large Ukrainian port city of Odessa, on the Black Sea.

A billboard reading “Russia in our hearts” is placed on the side of a road in the city of Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, on September 11, 2021 © Sergei GAPON / AFP

The separatist authorities assured that Wednesday's congress was a reaction to the recent introduction of customs duties by Chisinau on imports from Transnistria.

In his speech, separatist President Vadim Krasnosselski, quoted by local media, assured that this territory was undergoing "a policy of genocide", via economic, "physical", legal and linguistic pressures.

The fear of an escalation

This is the first time that such a congress has taken place since 2006, when separatist deputies decided to organize a referendum on the integration of Transnistria into Russia.

During this election, the result of which was not internationally recognized, the local population voted 97.1% for its attachment to this country.

Since the start of the Russian assault in Ukraine two years ago, fears of a widening of the conflict to Transnistria have surfaced several times.

Last year, the authorities of this self-proclaimed state notably accused kyiv of wanting to attack it after claiming to have foiled an attack in March that targeted its leaders.

The headquarters of the Operational Group of Russian troops in the city of Tiraspol, September 11, 2021 © Sergei GAPON / AFP

The Russian Defense Ministry assured last week, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine was preparing an "armed provocation" against Transnistria.

Officially counting 465,000 mainly Russian-speaking inhabitants, this territory which runs along the Dniester is not recognized as a state by the international community, including Moscow.

Chisinau and the European Union regularly criticize Russia for seeking to destabilize Moldova, formerly in its zone of influence but whose authorities are now resolutely oriented towards Europe.

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

With AFP

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