​TIRASPOL LEADER EXPLAINS WHY TRANSNISTRIA IS RELUCTANT TO HOLD NEGOTIATIONS WITH MOLDOVA

The current pause in the 5+2 format negotiations has been due to the aggravation of relations with Moldova, first and foremost because of the restrictive measures against Transnistria slapped unilaterally by Chisinau, Transnistrian president Yevgeny Shevchuk stated in the course of his meeting in Moscow with Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Sergey Gubarev.

According to the presidential website, Yevgeny Shevchuk reminded that the 5+2 format negotiation process has been in fact suspended for 1.5 years now.

“The reason to this was the starting of politically motivated criminal litigations against Transnistrian officials and economic operators, restriction of Transnistrians’ movement, including the deportation of Transnistria’s guests and citizens from the Chisinau airport”, said Yevgeny Shevchuk.

The parties discussed the perspectives of restarting of the 5+2 format negotiations in the conditions of the current socio-economic situation in Transnistria and of the progressing impact of negative external factors on Transnistria.

The official website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs contains no mention of the Gubarev/Shevchuk meeting.