Wiadomość została wysłana.
Transnistria, which declared independence from Moldova in 1991 but remains unrecognized by any state, has been hit by an energy crisis following the termination by Ukraine of a gas transit deal that allowed Russian gas to flow westward to European countries.
As a consequence, the Transnistrian authorities have declared a state of emergency, restricting heating supplies, closing schools and establishing 30 emergency points where members of the public can warm themselves and get a hot meal.
"We are not helpless, as some would like to believe,” Transnistria's leader, Vadim Krasnoselsky, was cited as saying by IPN, a Moldovan news site.
“What has been done? A gas reserve was created, which we will use, even if in a limited volume, for 10 days in the north of the ‘republic’ and for twice the days in the south. The MGRES plant was switched to coal. The Dubăsari hydroelectric plant is functional. In other words, the Transnistrians can count on electricity supply in January-February."
Tirasteploenergo, the main energy company, said the cuts, which kicked in on January 1, would not apply to hospitals and social institutions, but at the same time warned the public to turn off hot water taps and use electric fires with caution.
"Dress as warmly as possible and administer drugs for the prevention of influenza and respiratory diseases," the company was cited as saying by IPN.
The cut is a consequence of a dispute between Russia’s energy giant Gazprom and Ukraine, which has decided to terminate a gas transit agreement that allowed Russian gas to flow westwards to Central European countries.
So far Moldova has remained untouched by the crisis despite the fact that around 77% of its electricity comes from a gas-fired power station in Transnistria.
The country of around 2.5 million people, which narrowly voted last year in a referendum to make joining the European Union its strategic goal, has taken steps to decrease its dependence on Russian gas and energy by buying it from Europe.
Transnistria, home to around 1,500 Russian peacekeepers located in the region following a brief conflict with Moldova in 1991, has long relied on cheap Russian gas.
The Russian-speaking region has been regarded as an outpost of Russian influence in southeast Europe that has managed to hamstring Moldova’s chances of closer integration into Eastern Europe.
Given this, there are suspicions in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, that the Kremlin has manufactured the current situation.
"We're treating this not as an energy crisis but a security crisis, induced by Russia to destabilize Moldova both economically and socially," Olga Rosca, foreign policy adviser to Moldova's president, told the BBC.
The timing is also crucial; Moldova will go to the polls again this year, after re-electing its pro-European President Maia Sandu, to pick its new parliament.
