CHISINAU (Reuters) -Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniestria asked Russia on Wednesday to help its economy from Moldovan "pressure" during a meeting of hundreds of officials that the Chisinau government said was a propaganda stunt to gain headlines. The region, long seen as a potential flashpoint with Russia in Europe, held a rare "congress of deputies of all levels" after Moldova required Transdniestrian firms to pay import duties to the central budget from January. The congress passed a resolution saying it would appeal to both houses of Russia's parliament "with a request to implement measures to protect Transdniestria in the face of increasing pressure from Moldova".
Moldova's top negotiator in resolving the three-decade-old dispute with its pro-Russian Transdniestria separatist enclave on Sunday ruled out any role for Russia in finding a solution as long as it was engaged in its war in Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Serebrian made his comments on national radio as Moldova's pro-European government pressed ahead with its drive to secure European Union membership. The country's prime minister on Saturday said the newly appointed minister for European Aff
Moldova's top negotiator in resolving the three-decade-old dispute with its pro-Russian Transdniestria separatist enclave on Sunday ruled out any role for Russia in finding a solution as long as it was engaged in its war in Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Serebrian made his comments on national radio as Moldova's pro-European government pressed ahead with its drive to secure European Union membership. The country's prime minister on Saturday said the newly appointed minister for European Affairs would head Moldova's team at membership talks, which were the green light by European Union leaders last month.
Moldova has not used Russian gas since late last year, but it is keeping open the option of buying supply from Gazprom if conditions are right, the head of the Russian gas giant's local subsidiary said on Tuesday. Since last December, Gazprom's daily supply of 5.7 million cubic metres (mcm) has been channelled to the pro-Russian separatist Transdniestria region, which broke away from Moldova as the Soviet Union was collapsing in 1990. Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, has denounced Rus
Moldova has been determined to keep imports of Russian gas intact as it utilises it at power station in Transdniestria that produces country's 80% electricity.