Businesses “at a standstill” in Moldova after Russian gas deliveries stopped

Russia is increasing the pressure in Moldova. Many businesses in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transdniestria in Moldova are at a standstill on Thursday, announced the leader in charge of the economy after the end of Russian gas deliveries the day before, vital for its half-million inhabitants. “All industrial enterprises are at a standstill, except those engaged in food production”declared Sergei Obolonik, the representative of the separatists who manages economic issues. Mr. Obolonik deplored on Telegram a “serious crisis” to the consequences “irreversible”: “There are no energy resources for the industrial sector”he warned. These alarming comments come the day after the cessation of Russian gas deliveries to Transdniestria, a pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova, in the context of a financial dispute with Chisinau.

In fact, the Russian giant Gazprom has until now supplied Transdniestria with gas via the local supplier Tiraspoltransgaz, without paying for it. However, as Transdniestria was not recognized by the international community, the secessionist entity sent payment requests to Chisinau, increasing a debt to Gazprom. Faced with this unprecedented situation, a state of emergency was declared on December 16 in Moldova, for a period of 60 days. The leader of the pro-Russian separatists, Vadim Krasnosselskiï, admitted on Wednesday “a problem” and called an emergency meeting.

The Transnistria “going through a difficult situation”warned the Moldovan government spokesperson Daniel Voda the same day, calling on Russia to “stop his blackmail”. On site, the 450,000 inhabitants are invited to “dress warmly”has “gather together in one room” and not to use homemade heating means to prevent the risk of fire, according to a press release from an energy company. According to the authorities, 131 schools and 147 kindergartens had to be cut off from the network due to the supply interruption. University exams will take place in the coming days only online, “a forced measure because of the situation”. The rest of Moldova remains spared for the moment, notably thanks to help from neighboring Romania. It has already no longer received Russian gas since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but depends for a large part of its electricity needs on the Cuciurgan thermal power station, located in Transdniestria.