Moldova and Transnistria Situation Thread

Maybe it's genuine protest. Last time I was in Moldova it was worse than Romania. Corruption is crazy there and government is populist who only cares to line their pockets. Western media is quite silent about it because gov is pro eu. I personally think revolition wont happen

If the government is pro-EU why is one of their demands about bringing back Moldova back on track towards European integration? Seems weird to me.

franco wrote:

ExBeobachter1987 wrote:

Neutrality wrote:Maidan 2.0 now forming in Chisinau. Apparently protestors are clashing with the police and they are setting up tents. Same scenario as Ukraine.

What's the point?
Moldavia is already ruled by reliable pro-EU parties.

Yes, but they also want to maintain good relations with Russia and refuse to go to war with Transdniestria. Bad boys!

A policy entirely encouraged by the EU.

The EU is the same deal as the US, only it's playing 'good cop'

Neutrality wrote:If the government is pro-EU why is one of their demands about bringing back Moldova back on track towards European integration? Seems weird to me.

While demanding that their leaders not be allowed to travel to the US and EU

http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150906/1026659305.html
http://www.rt.com/news/314586-moldova-protest-government-resignation/

Well here was Sputnik's (EDIT: and RT's) take on the same protest,
noting that Romanian flags (i.e. pro-Greater-Romania unification) out-numbered Moldovan national flags,
although honestly in the picture they have, the flags seem to be about evenly matched... /shrug

Anyhow, IMHO the entire EU/US project in Moldova is at this point nearly incoherent on a pragmatic basis,
we have the people who backed the current government protesting against it, maybe asking for "more EU"
despite that the EU tolerated the entire system up to this point, because they were happy for "anti-Russian" regime.
The idea was that moving towards EU leads to prosperity and reduces corruption, yet corruption has only increased, per bank scandal.
(and per my last posted article, EU institutions are even seeming to protect corruption stealing from people)
So there can still be "ideological" pro-EU people (or pro-Romanian), but their demonstrated judgement and pragmatic ability is very low.
I guess within that milieu that doesn't matter much, but to neutral or opposed sectors obviously that is a significant factor.

Maidanists vs. Maidanists is the end result of any such zombifing national-suicidal propaganda.
No surprise that the Maidanists in Moldova are already at knife's edges against each other over who is the biggest and best European. Happening in the Ukraine too.

Considering that all opinion polls show that pro-Russian parties are in the lead in Moldova and increasing their gains; while support for anschluss with Romania remains confined to a nationalist minority (ridiculed by many more moderate Moldovans); the radical factions have got it into their head that following the Ukraine's example with its own ultra-nationalists - this is the best, and perhaps the last opportunity to seize power.

To that end they've organized these travelling circuses, most likely bussing in pro-Romanian unity supporters into the capital, perhaps some activists from Romania itself too.
Pro-Russian sentiment meanwhile is spread out amongst the country; it only has definite concentrations in Gagauzia; therefore the pro-Russian socialists/communists won't be able to achieve the same local concentrations of support in the capital unless they copy these same ludicrous tactics.

But really there's no need. Any Maidanist infighting will only serve to further reveal these people for the baboons they really are, to the rest of the population of the country.
The current government is in fact as subordinated to the EU as it can get; yet for many of their own supporters its not enough. Any political disorder will ultimately reflect badly on all of them, and enable the pro-Russian parties to continue the consolidation and gains in their support.

Another Moldovan party to join ongoing anti-government protests in Chisinau

Mass protests, the biggest ones in Moldova in the past 20 years, have been going on in Moldova’s capital city Chisinau since Sunday

CHISINAU, September 8. /TASS/. Moldova’s opposition Our Party is joining the ongoing anti-government protests demanding early elections, the party’s leader and mayor of Moldova’s second biggest city of Balti, Renato Usatii, said on Tuesday.

"Protests in Chisinau have demonstrated that the Moldovans are a real civil nation and that they don’t want to endure humiliation from people considering themselves as having power. I am confident Moldova’s only chance is early elections. With this demand, we will come to the governmental buildings in Chisinau and will ask their dwellers to get out. We will show what a real protest uniting Moldovan society, regardless of ethnic identity, languages and political likings, means," Usatii, who is currently in Russia for negotiations on cooperation of his city and other Moldovan cities and towns with Russian regions, told TASS. "As soon as I am back in Moldova I will hold a news conference to announce the date of our party’s protest actions," he added.

Mass protests, the biggest ones in Moldova in the past 20 years, have been going on in Moldova’s capital city Chisinau since Sunday. Protesters put a tent camp in Chisinau’s central square and demand a meeting with the prime minister, president and parliament speaker. After Red Bloc activists had made an attempt to break into the building of the prosecutor general’s office, the police arrested their leaders. The Dignity and Truth Civil Platform distanced itself from these actions saying it will continue protests "in a peaceful and civilized manner." The Platform’s leaders asked activists of other parties demanding resignation of the country’s government to organize their rallies at other locations.

Sorry for the sauce.

Moldova: 2 pro-Russian parties support anti-gov't protest over missing $1.5 billion

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/09/08/moldova-2-pro-russian-parties-support-anti-govt-protest-over-missing-15-billion/

Moldova’s PM says he is sure pro-European government will be dismissed

Earlier on Tuesday, the leader of the opposition Party of Socialists, Igor Dodon, who has the biggest faction of 24 seats in the 101-seat parliament, announced plans to initiate government resignation

CHISINAU, October 20. /TASS/. Moldova’s Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet said on Tuesday he has little doubt lawmakers are going to dismiss the current government formed by pro-European parties.

"A conspiracy is being plotted against Moldova. The last step will be done by lawmakers - they will vote for my resignation at their next meeting," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the leader of the opposition Party of Socialists, Igor Dodon, who has the biggest faction of 24 seats in the 101-seat parliament, announced plans to initiate government resignation. "We will find the votes necessary to register our initiative to send the cabinet to resignation. We will spare no effort to have these authorities stepped down," he told TASS.

The initiative has already been supported by the leader of the Party of Communists and former President, Vladimir Voronin, who has 19 seats in the parliament. "We see what is going on the country. Strelet is not doing what he is supposed to but is protecting his business run jointly with the arrested former Prime Minister [Vlad] Filat. That is why we are ready to vote in favour of sending this government to resignation," he said.

The Socialists have 43 seats in the parliament. Government resignation will be possible if eight more votes are added to these 43. Observers do not rule out that lawmakers with the ruling coalition could support this move, as the ruling coalition has arrived at a brink of collapse after Filat’s arrest.

A Chisinau court on Sunday extended the term of Filat’s arrest for another 30 days. The former prime minister and now the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, which is the core of the pro-European ruling coalition, is charged with involvement into a high-profile case of embezzlement of $1 billion from the country’s banking system.

Accusations are built on a confession of Moldovan businessmen Ilan Shor, who told the story of Filat’s "acts of corruption" on ten pages during interrogation on October 13. Thus, Shor claimed to have paid about $250 million to the former prime minister for his services and for favourable environment for his business.

Last week, the Moldovan parliament voted in favour of stripping Vlad Filat off his lawmaker immunity. The National Anti-corruption Centre said searches of Filat’s house and office had yielded a number of documents proving his involvement in passive corruption. Some the evidence leaked to the mass media.

Meanwhile, mass protests have been held in Chisinau for more than a month. The opposition, which calls Moldova "a country seized by oligarchs," demands resignation of the country’s top officials and insists on early parliamentary elections and direct elections of the president. Central Chisinau has literally turned into a tent camp divided between two opposition forces, the Party of Socialists and Our Party on the one hand, and the Dignity and Truth (DA) Civil Platform on the other. Both demand resignation of the country’s leaders and early elections. The DA Platform however stands for European integration and accuses the current authorities of discrediting this slogan by large-scale embezzlement. The Party of Socialists and Our Party stand for Eurasian geopolitical vector and closer relations with Russia. The opposition leaders are refusing to pool their efforts but agreed not to hamper each other.

Large-scale protests erupted in Moldova in the spring 2015 after the media had reported a theft of about $1 billion from three Moldovan banks, which nearly went bankrupt. Back then, Moldova’s ruling Alliance for European Integration coalition came under severe criticism from foreign donors, including the European Union and the World Bank, which subsequently suspended their financing of the republic.

George1 wrote:Moldova’s PM says he is sure pro-European government will be dismissed

Earlier on Tuesday, the leader of the opposition Party of Socialists, Igor Dodon, who has the biggest faction of 24 seats in the 101-seat parliament, announced plans to initiate government resignation

CHISINAU, October 20. /TASS/. Moldova’s Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet said on Tuesday he has little doubt lawmakers are going to dismiss the current government formed by pro-European parties.

"A conspiracy is being plotted against Moldova. The last step will be done by lawmakers - they will vote for my resignation at their next meeting," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the leader of the opposition Party of Socialists, Igor Dodon, who has the biggest faction of 24 seats in the 101-seat parliament, announced plans to initiate government resignation. "We will find the votes necessary to register our initiative to send the cabinet to resignation. We will spare no effort to have these authorities stepped down," he told TASS.

The initiative has already been supported by the leader of the Party of Communists and former President, Vladimir Voronin, who has 19 seats in the parliament. "We see what is going on the country. Strelet is not doing what he is supposed to but is protecting his business run jointly with the arrested former Prime Minister [Vlad] Filat. That is why we are ready to vote in favour of sending this government to resignation," he said.

The Socialists have 43 seats in the parliament. Government resignation will be possible if eight more votes are added to these 43. Observers do not rule out that lawmakers with the ruling coalition could support this move, as the ruling coalition has arrived at a brink of collapse after Filat’s arrest.

A Chisinau court on Sunday extended the term of Filat’s arrest for another 30 days. The former prime minister and now the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, which is the core of the pro-European ruling coalition, is charged with involvement into a high-profile case of embezzlement of  $1 billion from the country’s banking system.

Accusations are built on a confession of Moldovan businessmen Ilan Shor, who told the story of Filat’s "acts of corruption" on ten pages during interrogation on October 13. Thus, Shor claimed to have paid about $250 million to the former prime minister for his services and for favourable environment for his business.

Last week, the Moldovan parliament voted in favour of stripping Vlad Filat off his lawmaker immunity. The National Anti-corruption Centre said searches of Filat’s house and office had yielded a number of documents proving his involvement in passive corruption. Some the evidence leaked to the mass media.

Meanwhile, mass protests have been held in Chisinau for more than a month. The opposition, which calls Moldova "a country seized by oligarchs," demands resignation of the country’s top officials and insists on early parliamentary elections and direct elections of the president. Central Chisinau has literally turned into a tent camp divided between two opposition forces, the Party of Socialists and Our Party on the one hand, and the Dignity and Truth (DA) Civil Platform on the other. Both demand resignation of the country’s leaders and early elections. The DA Platform however stands for European integration and accuses the current authorities of discrediting this slogan by large-scale embezzlement. The Party of Socialists and Our Party stand for Eurasian geopolitical vector and closer relations with Russia. The opposition leaders are refusing to pool their efforts but agreed not to hamper each other.

Large-scale protests erupted in Moldova in the spring 2015 after the media had reported a theft of about $1 billion from three Moldovan banks, which nearly went bankrupt. Back then, Moldova’s ruling Alliance for European Integration coalition came under severe criticism from foreign donors, including the European Union and the World Bank, which subsequently suspended their financing of the republic.

What does this mean for Russia?

Moldovan opposition leader Usatii detained upon arrival from Moscow

The Moldovan prosecutor general’s office opened a criminal case against Usatii after the publication of audio records of talks between former Prime Minister Vlad Filat and businessman Ilan Shor

CHISINAU, October 23. /TASS/. Leader of Moldova’s opposition Our Party Renato Usatii has been detained at Chisinau’s international airport on Friday upon arrival from Moscow.

"They served no charges on me and are now taking me to the prosecutor general’s office. For interrogation, I think," he told TASS over the phone providing no further details.

Leader of the Party of Socialists, Igor Dodon, who along with Usatii organized mass anti-government protests in Chisinau, confirmed Usatii’s detention. "We are heading for the prosecutor general’s office to clarify the situation," he told TASS.

A spokesman for the Moldovan interior ministry told TASS Usatii had been detained at the request from the prosecutor general’s office, which had opened a criminal case against Usatii after the publication of audio records of talks between former Prime Minister Vlad Filat and businessman Ilan Shor, who are in the centre of a scandal over the theft of one billion U.S. dollars from the country’s banking system. The records revealed that the former prime minister had asked the businessman for financial aid in exchange for help in promoting his business. Filat was charged with involvement in the embezzlement and later taken in custody.

"My sources told me that this morning the prosecutor general had ordered to open one more criminal case, this time against me," Usatii wrote on his Facebook account. "I understand the fear of those who have not yet joined Filat [in custody]. I know that they are afraid after my yesterday’s publications. And they should be."

Usatii’s party was removed from parliamentary elections last November three days before voting. The leader had to flee the country after a number of criminal cases had been initiated against him. In the spring 2015 he returned to Moldova and won the mayoral elections in Moldova’s second largest city of Balti.

On September 25, Our Party activists, along with supporters of the Party of Socialists, which has the biggest faction in the Moldovan parliament, declared an open ended protest action and put a tent camp in front of the parliamentary building in central Chisinau demanding early elections. Having declared Moldova "a country seized by oligarch," they demand resignation of the authorities and chiefs of a number of state institutions.

Moldovan socialists not to support Sturza as new prime minister

Earlier on Monday, Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti signed a decree nominating Ion Sturza, who headed the cabinet back in 1999, to the post of prime minister

CHISINAU, December 21 /TASS/. Moldova’s Party of Socialists will not support presidential nominee Ion Sturza as Moldova’s new prime minister, the party’s leader Igor Dodon told journalists on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti signed a decree nominating Ion Sturza, who headed the cabinet back in 1999, to the post of prime minister, the Moldovan president’s press service told TASS.

"Sturza used to head the Moldovan government and knows the country’s problems well. Far from all parliamentary factions were ready to support his candidacy but I hope they are going to change their opinion," Timofti said.

"I am starting consultations with parliamentary parties tomorrow morning with an aim to form a government of patriots and professionals. I hope for a constructive dialogue," Sturza said in turn.

Under Moldova’s constitution, it is the president who nominates a candidate to the prime minister’s post. The prime minister has got 15 days to form a new cabinet and submit it and his programme to parliament for approval.

Andrian Candu, the Moldovan parliament’s speaker said on Monday that Sturza could fail to receive support of the majority of deputies.

"Sturza who headed the Moldovan government in 1999 is remembered for corruption and delayed pensions and salaries, which were frequently paid in flour and rubber overshoes. The Socialist will not vote for such a candidate to the prime minister’s post," Dodon said, adding that Moldova was extremely poor under Sturza’s premiership and huge masses of people were leaving it in search of a better life in other countries.

Dodon believes that a certain group of Moldovan oligarchs stood behind Sturza’s nomination. "Their goals have got nothing to do with Moldova’s interests. They want to cover their crimes and create an illusion of renovation by using an old and discredited politician," Dodon, whose party has the biggest 24-member faction in the 101-seat Moldovan parliament, said. According to him, the Socialists continue sticking to their demands of early parliamentary elections and transition to nationwide presidential elections.

Some Moldovan politicians believe that differences between the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova and the Democratic Party of Moldova, who cannot decide who is going to have more weight in the coalition, were the main stumbling block to reaching the consensus on the prime minister.

The government of Liberal Democrat Valeriu Strelet stepped down under pressure from opposition parties supported by the Democratic Party of Moldova on October 29. It happened amidst mass opposition riots and a split in the ruling "Alliance for European Integration", which comprises the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (LDPM); the Democratic Party of Moldova (DPM); and the Liberal Party (LP). A fight for power among the former allies prevented them from forming the parliamentary majority and approving a new government for the past two months despite pressure from the United States and the European Union that urged the Moldovan authorities to go ahead with European integration and start a campaign against corruption.

Last week, opposition leaders in Moldova accused Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti of usurping power because of his inability to nominate a candidate for the prime minister’s post for 6 months.

Marian Lupu, the leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova, threatened President Timofti with impeachment if he nominated a candidate to the prime minister’s post without consultations with representatives of other parties in the Moldovan parliament. The presidential press service responded with a statement, which accused the democrats of exerting pressure on Timofti demanding he nominate businessman Vladimir Plakhotnyuk as candidate to the post of Moldova’s prime minister. The local media calls Plakhotnyuk "the grey cardinal of the Moldovan politics." President Timofti has asked western diplomats for support because of pressure exerted on him and his family.

Moldova has been shaken by anti-government protests for the past 3 months. The situation became worse after Moldova’s former prime minister, Vladimir Filat, had been arrested on suspicion of corruption. Filat is the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, which forms the nucleus of the pro-European coalition. Later, the parliament voted for the resignation of a government led by Liberal Democrat Valeriu Strelet.

The fall of the second cabinet over the past 6 months has led to a new collapse of the ruling Alliance for European Integration, which has been in power in Moldova for the past five years. Moldova’s ruling pro-European coalition includes the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova; the Democratic Party of Moldova and the Liberal Party.

As I write the fettucini is hitting the whirling blades. Parliament in Moldova is taken but the people. No real violence yet but lots of riot police in the streets. The PTB want Moldova to go to EU, Mother does not want that nor do the people. We will see what comes to pass by morning. Already EU/US are calling for calm tonight, people are to go home and negotiations will start tomorrow or the next day. Same old story.

auslander wrote:As I write the fettucini is hitting the whirling blades. Parliament in Moldova is taken but the people. No real violence yet but lots of riot police in the streets. The PTB want Moldova to go to EU, Mother does not want that nor do the people. We will see what comes to pass by morning. Already EU/US are calling for calm tonight, people are to go home and negotiations will start tomorrow or the next day. Same old story.

It now or never. People should not leave the streets!

Transdniestria asks Moldova to abandon mutual persecution of officials

Transdniestria proposes "to introduce a moratorium on opening new politically motivated criminal cases as a first step"

TIRASPOL, February 19. /TASS/. Transdniestria proposes to Moldova to abandon mutual criminal persecution of official, deputy foreign minister Dmitry Palamarchuk told reporters on Friday.

"We stand for simultaneously closing criminal cases on the basis of reciprocity, on an ‘all for all’ basis," Palamarchuk said adding that Tiraspol understands that this is a very complicated process. Transdniestria proposes "to introduce a moratorium on opening new politically motivated criminal cases as a first step," he added.

The Transdniestrian conflict started in March 1992 when the first clashes occurred between Moldovan police and Transdniestrian militia near the city of Dubossary, which were followed by an outbreak of armed hostilities. By summer, it had developed into large-scale fighting in Bendery, where about a thousand people were killed and tens of thousands were wounded and became refugees.

The fratricidal war was stopped after a peace agreement was signed in Moscow in July of the same year and Russian peacekeepers were brought into the conflict area.

Since then, they have been guarding peace and calm in the region, together with their Moldovan and Transdniestria colleagues, thus allowing Chisinau and Tiraspol to conduct negotiations on the settlement of the conflict around the breakaway republic.


More:
http://tass.ru/en/world/857976

ah Transnistria brilliant country i went here in 2013 for Independence day, and ended up being arrested at gun point when trying to leave the country lol. Despite what the Moldovans say in Chisnau Transnistria is in better shape than the rest of Moldova, i was quite surprised how much better. I have pictures and videos, and even got pretty close to the president and head of armed forces

has anyone ever heard of these rockets? Alazan rockets used for to distribute cloud-seeding chemicals. I read that its rumour that theirs some in Transnistria arsenal. When i visited their was loads of old apartment blocks fenced off and troops guarding them, i was told by the locals that they were filled with weapons including the basements. Then theirs Cobasna a commune situated in northern Transnistria, composes of three villages: Cobasna, Cobasna station and Suhaia Rîbniţa. Cobasna is the site of a Russian, and formerly Soviet ammunition depot, one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
The locals believe Russia keeps a huge amount of soviet weapons in the region for two reasons, one if theirs a war in Russia the weapons could be used by partisans/groups wanting to defend Russia, and two to ship weapons thought to be destroyed to armed groups around the world black market style, and normally via Odessa port. But its well known Transnistria is a hitmans paradise access to all sorts of weapons. I was offered an AK-47 for sale when i was there lol. Although above reasons are unlikely to happen the second especially with the now Russia/Ukraine relations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alazan_%28rocket%29

Moldova and Transdniestria agree to relaunch negotiations — representatives

Moldova summons Russian ambassador after reports Moldovans being recruited to Russian army

More:
http://tass.ru/en/politics/866707

Transdniestria asks Russia for financial assistance

More:
http://tass.ru/en/economy/868369

Russian soldiers to leave Moldova after 14th army depots are liquidated — diplomat

The armaments remaining from the Soviet era can be withdrawn from Moldova into Russia only through the territory of Ukraine

More:
http://tass.ru/en/defense/867946

Russian colonel to command joint peacekeeping forces in Transdniestria

Russia sent its peacekeepers to Transdniestria in July 1992 - exactly 24 years ago - to stop the fratricidal war, which claimed more than a thousand human lives

TIRASPOL, July 8 /TASS/. Russian Colonel Sergey Rybakov has been appointed to head the united headquarters of the joint peacekeeping forces in Moldova’s unrecognized Republic of Transdniestria following a decision of the Joint Control Commission.

"Colonel Rybakov who arrived in the region as part of planned rotation had taken a special training course to be able to participate in the peacekeeping operation," the Joint Control Commission press center said.

Russia sent its peacekeepers to Transdniestria in July 1992 - exactly 24 years ago - to stop the fratricidal war, which claimed more than a thousand human lives and turned tens of thousands of people into refugees. Transdnietria has not seen a single outbreak of violence since the Russian peacekeepers arrived. That makes the peacekeeping operation in Transdniestria one of the most effective in Europe. At present, the Russian servicemen guarding peace in the conflict zone alongside the blue helmets from Moldova and Transdniestria. A group of military observers from Ukraine also watches the peacekeeping operation.

Another task of the Russian peacekeepers is to guard ammunition depots near Kolbasna village. According to various estimates, more than 20,000 tonnes of arms were brought in there after the Soviet troops had withdrawn from Eastern Europe.


More:
http://tass.ru/en/defense/887014

Igor Dodon is winning bitchezz...

KoTeMoRe wrote:Igor Dodon is winning bitchezz...

Second round next week?