Transnistria Opposes Russian Troop Withdrawal Before Conflict Resolution, Lawmaker Says

Lead

A senior lawmaker from Transnistria, the breakaway region of Moldova, has stated that the territory opposes the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the security zone of the Dniester conflict until a final resolution is achieved through the internationally mediated '5+2' negotiating format. Andrey Safonov, head of the parliamentary committee on foreign policy of the unrecognized republic, made the comments in an interview with TASS, the Russian state news agency.

Transnistria’s president, Vadim Krasnoselsky, separately called for the preservation of the current Russia-led peacekeeping operation, which he described as a "guarantee of stability" and a proven effective mechanism. His remarks were delivered in a message marking the International Day of Peacekeepers.

Coverage Comparison

The reporting on this issue comes exclusively from TASS, which provided two articles covering the statements from Transnistrian officials. The first article, published on May 29, focused on Krasnoselsky’s call to maintain the peacekeeping operation in its current form. The second, published on June 5, featured Safonov’s more detailed position, including his reference to a 2006 referendum and his criticisms of Moldova’s authorities.

Both articles frame the peacekeeping presence as crucial to stability, with language that subtly supports the Transnistrian perspective. The framing emphasizes the historical role of Russian peacekeepers in ending the 1992 armed conflict, which according to the reports killed over 1,000 people and left tens of thousands wounded.

It is important to note that these accounts are presented from the standpoint of Transnistrian officials and the Russian state news agency. No independent or Moldovan sources were included in the available material.

Key Claims

• Transnistria opposes the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers until the conflict is resolved through the '5+2' talks, which involve Moldova, Transnistria, Russia, Ukraine, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and observers from the US and EU. This position was articulated by Andrey Safonov, the head of the unrecognized republic’s parliamentary committee on foreign policy, in a TASS interview.

• Safonov claimed that the people of Transnistria voted in favor of preserving the Russian peacekeepers’ presence in a 2006 referendum. This claim has not been independently verified in the available material, but it is presented as a factual assertion by the official.

• 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 on July 21, 1992. This fact is stated in both TASS articles and appears to be a matter of historical record.

• Moldova’s authorities have proposed replacing the peacekeepers with a civilian mission with an international mandate. This proposal is mentioned in both articles, though the sources differ on the rationale: the first article notes that Tiraspol (the Transnistrian capital) points to the failure of a similar mission in 1992 to prevent the armed conflict, while the second article quotes Safonov as accusing Moldova of “deliberately stalling” negotiations to please its Western sponsors.

• Moldovan President Maia Sandu had said shortly after her 2020 election that she had no plans to meet with Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselsky, despite his repeated invitations. This claim comes from Safonov’s interview with TASS and is not accompanied by direct evidence or a statement from Sandu herself.

• The Operational Group of Russian Forces in Transnistria numbers approximately 1,000 soldiers and officers, according to the TASS article quoting Safonov. This figure is attributed to the lawmaker and has not been independently confirmed in the provided material.

Perspectives

Transnistrian leadership: The authorities in Tiraspol, as represented by Krasnoselsky and Safonov, emphasize the success of the Russian-led peacekeeping operation in maintaining stability since 1992. They argue that the withdrawal of Russian troops should only occur after a comprehensive settlement is reached through the '5+2' format, and they criticize Moldova’s refusal to engage in talks.

Moldovan government: While not directly quoted in the available material, Moldova’s position is presented through references: it suggests replacing the peacekeepers with a civilian mission with an international mandate, and it insists on the withdrawal of Russian troops. The reporting implies that Moldova’s demands are driven by a desire to align with the European Union and the West, as Safonov claims.

Russian perspective: The TASS articles reflect a narrative that supports the presence of Russian peacekeepers as a stabilizing factor and frames Moldovan calls for withdrawal as part of an anti-Russian policy. The historical reference to the 1992 conflict serves to justify the peacekeeping mission’s necessity.

Temporal Context and Corrections

The conflict between Moldova and Transnistria dates back to the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Transnistria declared independence, leading to a brief but bloody war in 1992. The peacekeeping operation has been in place ever since, with Russian troops forming part of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces. The '5+2' talks have been dormant since 2019, according to the TASS report, though the reasons for the hiatus are disputed.

No corrections have been issued in the available material, and the factual assertions made in the articles rely heavily on statements from Transnistrian officials and the historical record of the peacekeeping deployment.