​PRE-ELECTION SITUATION ALLOWS IGOR DODON NO RECIPROCITY TO TIRASPOL - EXPERT OPINION

The pre-election situation in Moldova, most likely, will not allow President Igor Dodon to meet Tiraspol halfway in resolving the issues raised by it. This opinion was expressed in an interview with Politnavigator by the director of the Institute for Socio-Political Research and Regional Development (Tiraspol) Igor Shornikov, commenting on the last meeting of the leaders of Moldova and Transnistria.

He considers it “difficult to talk about real actions when one of the parties went into pre-election rage.”

“Transnistria, of course, is interested in resolving a set of problems from the list that was discussed at the meeting - unblocking the possibility of using Visa and MasterCard cards in Transnistria, telecommunications, opening the Benderi-Varnita-Severnii trolleybus line, the issue of criminal cases. But compromises with Transnistria will cause a flurry of criticism from the right and will be regarded as a surrender of Moldova's interests,” the expert said.

According to him, “certain shifts cannot be completely ruled out: they are possible if the parties come to an agreement on the participation of Transnistrians in the presidential elections on November 1”.

“The fact that the meeting took place in a fairly calm atmosphere and that during it issues including the Berlin Plus package were discussed, may mean that Dodon was able to get a trump card in his election campaign. None of his competitors have any idea of what to do with Transnistria. But Dodon has devoured the 5 + 2 format, the effectiveness of which has long been questionable, "Shornikov said.