TIRASPOL, March 25. /ITAR-TASS/. Moldova’s self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria withstands pressure both from Moldova and neighboring Ukraine with an enormous support from Russia, republic’s Foreign Minister Nina Shtanski said on Tuesday.
“We constantly feel pressure on behalf of Moldova and Ukraine,” she said. “Russia play the key role in overcoming the consequences of such pressure.”
Shtanski said that the republic has been under the economic blockade since 2006, when Ukraine upon Moldova’s request stopped the transit of Transnistrian goods via its territory without Moldovan-approved documents.
Speaking about Russia’s support of Transnistria, republic’s top diplomat pointed to Moscow’s consistent policy regarding this issue.
“Moscow provides here (in Transdniestria) peace and stability, renders financial assistance to vulnerable social groups. Construction of new schools and hospitals is paid with money provided by Russia,” she said.
Such support, she said, makes residents of Transnistria feel like they are part of “the Russian world.”
“Hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens live here and approximately the same number of people of various nationalities identify themselves as Russian compatriots,” she added.
The diplomat also said that her republic hopes for the soonest improvements in neighboring Ukraine, which has been in a political turmoil in recent months. She said that about 100,000 Ukrainian nationals reside in Transnistria and the republic cannot be indifferent to the current developments in Ukraine.