Separatists pro-Russians in Moldova extend state of emergencies amid gas cuts
Transdniestria, a separatist region in Moldova backed by Moscow and afflicted with an energy shortage after losing its access to Russian gas that has sustained its economy for decades, extended the state of emergency for another month on Friday.
Gazprom, a Russian company, suspended its gas exports to Transdniestria at the beginning of January. The reason given was unpaid Moldovan bills totaling $709 million. Moldova denies that debt, and claims Moscow is provoking a crisis in order to undermine the pro-Western government.
Moscow says that Russia used to provide gas to Transdniestria through Ukraine. Kyiv refused to extend a gas-transit deal which expired on December 31 due to Russia’s invasion. Moldova, which is a supporter of Ukraine, claims that Moscow could continue gas supplies via an alternative route.
Transdniestria has been experiencing gas cuts, rolling power outages, and water shortages since it broke away from Moldova during the last days of Soviet rule.
Separatist authorities announced on Telegram that residents will have five hours without power on Friday, and that a state of emergency will be in effect until at least February 8.
The pro-European Moldovan government has accused Russia of creating a fake energy crisis in order to destabilize the country before the summer parliamentary elections.
The Moldovan president Maia Sandu said that Gazprom can supply gas to Transdniestria through an alternative route called TurkStream.
Transdniestria accuses Moldova and Ukraine of the energy crisis in which it is currently engulfed.
According to local outlet Novosti Pridnestrovya, an official in Transdniestria stated on Wednesday that gas storage capacity would be sufficient for the region's breakaway region to last the next 24days.
Transdniestria, which borders Ukraine and fought a short war in 1992 against the Moldovan government forces, still has 1,500 Russian troops on its tiny territory. (Reporting and editing by Tom Balmforth, Gareth Jones and Yuliia dysa)
(source: Reuters)
