Moldova to have to talk on task force withdrawal from Transnistria with Russia — Deputy PM

Lead

Moldova will eventually need to discuss the withdrawal of the Operational Group of Russian Forces (OGRF) from Transnistria with Russia, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri told journalists on July 29. Chiveri, who leads Moldova's delegation at the Transnistrian settlement talks, said the issue is a bilateral Russian-Moldovan matter that will have to be addressed with Moscow at some stage.

"We must take into account that the OGRF remains on Moldovan territory. That is, whether we like it or not, at a certain stage - with the support of our partners - this issue will have to be addressed with the Kremlin," Chiveri said, as quoted by TASS. "This is a bilateral Russian-Moldovan issue. I wouldn't like to go into details, but since Russian troops are still on Moldovan territory, I assume the time will come when this issue will have to be discussed."

Coverage comparison

Two separate TASS reports shed light on different aspects of the Transnistrian settlement process. One report, dated July 24, focuses on accusations from Transnistrian authorities that Chiveri is avoiding negotiations. The other, dated July 29, covers Chiveri's statement about the OGRF withdrawal. TASS, a Russian state news agency, presents both the Transnistrian complaints and the Moldovan official's remarks without additional commentary from other parties.

Key claims

Transnistrian accusations

Transnistrian authorities have accused Chiveri of sabotaging the negotiation process. According to a statement from the unrecognized republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chiveri refused to hold a meeting with the Transnistrian delegation at the OSCE Mission's office in Tiraspol in the second half of July. The ministry claimed Chiveri issued an ultimatum refusing to hold meetings at OSCE mission offices in Tiraspol and Bendery, which traditionally serve as agreed neutral venues for dialogue.

"Such actions by the political representative of the Republic of Moldova constitute a form of sabotage of the negotiation process: instead of substantive work, ultimatums and preconditions; instead of an agreed-upon agenda, topics detached from reality; instead of professional dialogue, a sham of interaction and propaganda slogans," the statement said, as reported by TASS.

The Transnistrian Foreign Ministry called on Moldova to "immediately return to the negotiating table," including willingness to hold meetings of political representatives, activate expert groups, de-escalate, and implement previously reached agreements.

Frozen negotiations

Negotiations on the Transnistrian settlement under the 5+2 platform (Moldova, Transnistria, the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine, and observers from the EU and the US) have been frozen since 2019, according to the TASS report. Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky has repeatedly called for resuming negotiations, but Moldovan President Maia Sandu, after being elected in 2020, said she would not meet with the leader of the unrecognized republic.

OGRF withdrawal

Chiveri's July 29 remarks came after Sandu earlier stated that the OGRF withdrawal should be resolved during negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. The TASS report provides background on the Russian military presence in Transnistria: Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the combat zone on July 29, 1992, in accordance with the Agreement on the Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Armed Conflict in the Dniester Region of the Republic of Moldova, signed by the presidents of Russia and Moldova. They maintain peace in the Security Zone along the Dniester River together with Moldovan and Transnistrian "blue helmets."

The OGRF, numbering approximately 1,000 soldiers and officers, is stationed in the region. Its mission includes supporting the peacekeeping operation and guarding warehouses with over 20,000 tons of munitions moved there after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from European countries.

The Moldovan leadership insists on the OGRF withdrawal and proposes replacing the peacekeepers with a civilian mission under an international mandate. However, Tiraspol opposes the withdrawal, arguing that a civilian mission failed to prevent an armed conflict in 1992.

Perspectives

Moldovan government

Moldova's leadership, including President Maia Sandu and Deputy PM Chiveri, insists on the withdrawal of Russian forces from Transnistria. Chiveri acknowledges the issue will need to be discussed with Russia, while Sandu has linked it to broader Ukraine peace negotiations.

Transnistrian authorities

Transnistrian officials accuse Moldova of sabotaging negotiations and refuse to accept the withdrawal of Russian troops, citing the failure of civilian missions in the past. They call for a return to the negotiating table and implementation of previously reached agreements.