Transnistria Is Distancing Itself from moscow

Transnistria, which, with russia’s support, broke away from Moldova in the early 1990s, is losing its focus on the kremlin. moscow’s weak response to the January gas crisis and the region’s growing dependence on trade with the European Union have strengthened support for the idea of reintegration with Moldova.

According to a survey conducted in the autumn of 2024, 45 % of Transnistria’s residents were in favor of reunification with Moldova, while 38 % were against it. The situation was exacerbated by moscow’s failure to secure energy supplies: assistance from Gazprom arrived only a month later, while Chisinau promptly transferred three million cubic meters of gas to the region and the EU allocated EUR 30 million. Leader of the unrecognized entity Vadim Krasnoselsky  even thanked Brussels for its support.

Today, 77 % of Transnistria’s exports go to EU countries, while trade with russia has virtually collapsed. The influence of the kremlin propaganda has also waned: in order to transit gas through Moldovan territory, Tiraspol had  to make concessions – release political prisoners, dismantle checkpoints, and allow the broadcast of the national television channel Moldoval.