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Moldova's breakaway region requests for Russia, Ukrainian aid amid economic crisis

Tiraspol has also sent a request for the parties to the talks on the Transdniestria settlement emanding "urgent measures to unblock the foreign economic activity of Transdniestria"
Tiraspol, Transdniestria EPA/STRINGER
Tiraspol, Transdniestria
© EPA/STRINGER

TIRASPOL, February 27. /TASS/. The government of Moldova’s breakaway region Transdniestria announced on Friday it has ordered the Foreign Ministry to send requests for Russia and Ukraine to provide it with financial aid amid the current economic crisis.

The government of Transdniestria, an unrecognized region with the Russian-speaking majority that borders Ukraine, said in the statement it requests additional targeted aid to the vulnerable social groups of both Russian and Ukrainian origin.

Tiraspol has also sent a request for the parties to the talks on the Transdniestria settlement in the 5+2 format (Moldova, Transdniestria, the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine and observers of the US and the EU) demanding "urgent measures to unblock the foreign economic activity of Transdniestria."

Amid the severe economic downturn, the government of the unrecognized republic on Friday set up a state commission in order to assess the amount of funds to be disbursed on major budget expenses at various levels.

The commission, led by First Deputy Prime Minister Maya Parnas, consists of several government and parliament members, as well as representatives of trade unions, public organisations and courts.

The funds are expected to be spent on providing citizens with foodstuffs, medicines, as well as on maintaining vehicles used for the needs of ambulances and law enforcement bodies. The government could also consider plans to pay wage arrears, pensions and social benefits.

"The commission has been established due to the lack of funds in the state treasury. Amid the negative dynamics of the revenues flow to the budget, we lack not only own profits but also the funds needed to meet the budget deficit on the socially protected areas," Finance Minister Elena Girzhul said.

Transdniestria broke away from Moldova following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Its relations with Moldova’s central government in Chisinau have been highly mixed and extremely tense at times ever since then. In 1992 and 1993, the tensions erupted into a bloody armed conflict that claimed the lives of hundreds of people on both sides.