Tiraspol - Moldova - Mafia in Uniform

New Russian Commander in Transnistria

Russia has appointed a new commander for its troops in Transnistria.


Russia appoints new commander for its troops in Moldova

September 14, 2009


The Russian Minister of Defense has appointed colonel Vyacheslav Sitchikhin as commander of the Operative Group of Russian Troops (OGRV) in Moldova's breakaway region, Transnistria

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At the moment, the OGRV is 1.5 thousand men strong. It takes part in a peacekeeping operation in the Transnistria Security Zone and guards huge military depots in the Colbasna village on the eastern Dniester bank - some 21.5 thousand tons of Russian ammunition, weaponry and military equipment.

Military Exercises

Tiraspol is apparently preparing for a possible attack on them.


Transnistria conducting military exercises during CIS Summit

9 October 2009


On Thursday the authorities of the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic carried out staff-command exercises. Transnistrian President Igor Smirnov personally, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Anatoly Kaminsky, Ministry of Defense Stanislav and villages, heads of the ministries and other institutions participated in these exercise.

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"Our task is to provide the appropriate level of the state's defense capacity, in order not to allow a military aggression against Transnistria and in case of an aggression to defend Transnistria surely.

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In the course of an imitated combat with the enemy, who attacked Transnistria, heavy artillery, aviation armored cars, and cannons were used.

Lots of ammo

According to the new Commander of the Russian troops in Transnistria, there are still about 21.5 thousand tons of ammo near the Colbasna village.


21.5K tons of ammunition are at Russian military depot in Moldova

October 20, 2009


About 21.5 thousand tons of ammunition remains at Russian military depot near the Colbasna village of the Rybnitsa raion, New Commander of the Operative Group of the Russian Troops (OGRT) Colonel Viacheslav Sitchikhim communicated in the "Pridnestrovie" newspaper.

At least 37 people have died from a mystery virus in western parts of Ukraine. It's a very unusual situation. They say they don't know what this virus is, but they know it's not the H1N1. Western parts of Ukraine share border with Transnistria.


There's a thread about it here:

Number of victims to unknown virus growing! State of emergency to be imposed in Ukraine?

On Tuesday, a high-level meeting between Council of Europe and the European Union in Luxembourg concluded that a resolution of the Transnistria issue is only possible through peaceful means.


Situation in Moldova discussed at CoE-EU high-level meeting

October 29, 2009


The participants agreed that the resolution of the Transnistrian issue is possible only through peaceful means and transparent negotiations in the 5+2 format.

And Biden visited Romania this week. Whether this might be related or not, I have no idea. But I thought I should mention it anyway.


Biden to Bucharest: Why Romania?

October 23, 2009


But why is Romania on Biden’s itinerary? In fact, Bucharest, Romania’s capital, is the venue for Biden’s major speech on the trip.

To most Americans, Bucharest is not the obvious choice.

www.azi.md...

4 November 2009


As many as 177 suspect cases of pandemic flu have been reported in Moldova by this morning. The virus was detected in 39 cases. So far, it caused the death of two men aged 35 and 50.

That's in Chisinau, Moldova. Whether there is also flu in Transnistria, we can only speculate. I assume they won't tell us if they do have it.

Regarding Transnistria and the flu situation...


Strengthening relations with Ukraine highly important for Moldova - premier

Nov. 5, 2009


Prime Minister Vladimir Filat had a 4 November meeting with the secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, Raisa Bogatyreva, who is on a working visit to Moldova, the government's mass-media relations department has said.

The discussion focused on prospects of strengthening relations between Moldova and Ukraine, the Moldovan-Ukrainian border demarcation, recognition of Moldova's properties in Ukraine and Ukraine's in Moldova, as well as the epidemiological situation caused by the A (H1N1) flu.

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She confirmed her country's position that the Transnistrian conflict should be settled peacefully and negotiations in the 5+2 format should be resumed

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Referring to the Transnistrian conflict, Vladimir Filat recalled that a meeting in the 5+2 format will take place in Vienna on 6 November, pointing out Ukraine's important role in this respect.

The prime minister expressed Moldova's willingness to assist Ukraine in case of need, to overcome the epidemiological situation caused by the A (H1N1) virus.

Biden's speech in Bucharest

Article 5: "An attack on one is an attack against all". If Moldova joins NATO, NATO will be in a de facto state of war with Transnistria...


Romania and Bulgaria provide bases to the United States and NATO to launch war in the East

Biden stated in Bucharest, “As President Obama has said, there are no old members, there are no new members of NATO; there are just members. Under Article 5, an attack on one is an attack against all”

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Were Moldova to join NATO, either in its own right or as part of an expanded Romania, the Alliance would be in a de facto state of war with Transdniester, which is supported by Russia. Romania is a NATO member and if it intervened on behalf of Moldova against its neighbor could invoke NATO’s Article 5 against Transdniester – where, again, Russian troops are based.

Addressing his Romanian hosts on October 22, Biden said, “In Eastern Europe, there are countries still struggling to establish fully functioning democracies and vibrant market economies. You can help guide Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine along the path to stability and prosperity…There is much work to be done in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus.”

Btw, a gas pipeline exploded in Moldova today.


Moldova Says Gas Explosion Won't Affect Supplies

An explosion has damaged a Moldovan pipeline used to deliver Russian gas to the Balkans, but supplies to Europe were unaffected, the government said.

A stretch of pipeline around 70 kilometers southeast of the capital Chisinau exploded on November 8, cutting supplies to some regions of Moldova, the government said in a statement.

But supplies of Russian gas to Balkan consumers is continuing through other routes

I found this too;

WorldEvents Также в этом разделе Also in this section

МОЛДОВА. MOLDOVA. Новый Кишинев намерен избавить Приднестровье от влияния России New Chisinau intends to rid the influence of Russia on Transnistria
Время публикации: 16 ноября 2009 г., 19:19 Time of publication: November 16, 2009, 19:19

Новый премьер-министр Молдавии Влад Филат намерен добиваться того, чтобы Россия прекратила оказывать «прямую и косвенную поддержку» непризнанной республике Приднестровье. The new Prime Minister of Moldavia Vlad Filat intends to ensure that Russia has ceased to provide "direct and indirect support" of the unrecognized republic of Transnistria. Об этом он заявил в ходе прошедшего визита в Румынию в интервью местному изданию Adevarul. He stated this during the last visit to Romania in an interview with a local edition of Adevarul.

Филат подчеркнул, что молдавско-российские отношения должны быть основаны на «достоинстве», а достоинство, по словам молдавского премьера, «означает уважение нашего суверенного права, вывод армии и вооружения из Приднестровья, прекращение прямой и косвенной поддержки Тираспольского режима, а также уважительное отношение России к Республике Молдова», цитирует «Новости-Молдова». Filat stressed that Moldova-Russia relations should be based on "dignity", and dignity, according to the Moldavian prime minister "means respect for our sovereign rights, the withdrawal of the army and weaponry from Transnistria, the cessation of direct and indirect support of the Tiraspol regime, as well as respect Russia to the Republic of Moldova ", quotes the" News-Moldova ".

Глава правительства Молдавии также заявил в интервью румынской газете, что Кишинев до сих пор расплачивается за соглашение между Гитлером и Сталиным (пакт Молотова-Риббентропа), по которому Бесарабия была оккупирована советскими войсками. The head of the Moldovan government also said in an interview with the Romanian newspaper that Chisinau is still paying for the agreement between Hitler and Stalin (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact), which Bessarabia was occupied by Soviet troops.

Кроме того, Филат рассчитывает на решительную поддержку со стороны Румынии по ускоренной интеграции Молдавии в Евросоюз. In addition, Filat counting on strong support from Romania to accelerate the integration of Moldova into the European Union. 20 ноября Филат отправится в Ялту, где собирается обсудить с российским премьером Владимиром Путиным судьбу Приднестровья и новый политический подход, который разработал сам Филат, сообщает РИА Днестр. November 20 Filat go to Yalta, where going to discuss with Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the fate of Transnistria and the new political approach, which has developed itself Filat, RIA Dniester.

Как напоминает ИА «Росбалт», 10 октября лидер непризнанной Приднестровской молдавской республики Игорь Смирнов согласился с новыми молдавскими властями, заявившими, что предложенный несколько лет назад в качестве основы для приднестровского урегулирования так называемый «Меморандум Козака» устарел. It reminds IA Rosbalt, October 10, leader of the breakaway Trans-Dniester Moldovan Republic, Igor Smirnov agreed with the new Moldovan authorities, said that the proposed several years ago as a basis for settlement of the Transnistrian so-called "Kozak Memorandum" is outdated.

Transnistria and Moldova to meet on February 11 to discuss a railway link between Moldova and Transnistria.


Moldovan, Transnistrian expert groups to meet on 11 February

Feb. 9, 2010


European experts are expected to attend the 11 February meeting, during which the issue of railway link between the two banks of the Dniester will be discussed.

Tiraspol don't want Romania to join international talks, as they are already represented by the EU.


Moldovan Separatists Say Romania Not Needed At Talks

February 04, 2010


A Transdniestrian official today rejected any suggestions that Romania might join international talks to resolve the future of the breakaway Moldovan region, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.

Vladimir Yastrembchak, Transdniester's foreign minister, said in the Transdniestrian capital, Tiraspol, on February 3 that Romania is already represented at the negotiations by the European Union, which Bucharest joined in 2007.

Visa bans suspended

Smirnov and Antufeyev are free to enter the EU.


'Santa Claus' rebel free to enter EU

24.02.2010


The EU has quietly suspended a visa ban on rebel leaders in Moldova in the hope of reviving peace talks on one of Europe's Cold War-era conflicts.

The decision, taken by foreign ministers on Monday (22 February), allows 16 people from the de facto government of the breakaway Transniestria region to enter the EU for a trial period of six months.

It covers rebel leader Igor Smirnov, a 65-year-old Russian former baker known as "Santa Claus" for his cheerful mien and white beard, who moved to Transniestria in 1987 and led separatists in a bloody war of independence in the early 1990s.

It also includes Vladimir Antufeyev, a former Soviet police chief who runs Transniestria's secret service. Mr Antufeyev is widely believed to be the power behind the throne in Tiraspol and to take orders from Moscow.

Tiraspol Worried Over Moldova, Romania Military Cooperation

On March 29, Moldova and Romania signed an agreement on cooperation between their air forces. Tiraspol is concerned about this, and says it undermines the regional stability.



RIA Novosti: Transdnestr worried over Moldova, Romania military ties

03/04/2010


Transdnestr is concerned about the strengthening of military cooperation between NATO member Romania and neutral Moldova, the foreign minister of Moldova's breakaway region said.

Moldova and Romania signed on March 29 an agreement on cooperation between their respective air forces and discussed the future development of bilateral military contacts.

"The violation of the existing balance of forces could lead to unpredictable consequences because someone would certainly want to explore the results of this military cooperation," Vladimir Yastrebchak said on Friday.

He added that military ties between Chisinau and Bucharest undermine regional stability and security.

Vardanian

Tiraspol is holding a journalist in isolation, on "treason" charges.


Transdnestr Holds Journalist on Treason Charges

20 April 2010


Vardanian, a freelance journalist based in Transdnestr, was detained April 7 and has been held in an isolation unit despite appeals for his release from Russia, the United States and human rights groups.

State security officials in the region declined to give any details about his case or say when it might come to trial.

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Vardanian, 30, is being held on suspicion of treason, which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years

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Journalists' rights groups have urged the Transdnestr authorities to release Vardanian, who is married and has two children. Russia and the United States have also made diplomatic appeals on his behalf.

Vardanean

Hmmm. Slightly different spelling of his name. My previous post was a Russian source, so I guess that was the Russian spelling. And in this RFE/RL article, he is 33 years old instead of 30. Nagorno-Karabakh pleads for him. He is accused of spying.


Karabakh Official Pleads For Arrested Moldovan Journalist

April 21, 2010


A senior Nagorno-Karabakh official said he has asked authorities in Moldova's breakaway Transdniester region to improve conditions for a local Armenian-born journalist detained there

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Ernest Vardanean, a 33-year-old freelancer for the Transdniester news agency Novy Region 2, was arrested on April 7 at his home in the unrecognized republic's capital, Tiraspol.

He is accused of spying

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The Moldovan government has condemned Vardanean's arrest, as have numerous human rights and media associations, including Reporters Without Borders.

Related thread:
War In Nagorno Karabakh Can Start At Any Moment

Black Market Uranium-238

Almost 2 kilos of uranium-238 has been seized in Chisinau. Former police officers are among those arrested. The source of the uranium is not clear, and neither is the intended destination.


BBC: Smuggled uranium-238 seized in Moldova

Moldovan police have seized 1.8kg of uranium-238 in the capital, Chisinau, officials say.

Three members of the group, which included former police officers, were arrested, they said.

The smugglers had reportedly been trying to sell the material on the European black market for 9m euros (£7.4m).

But investigator Oleg Putintica told Moldova's ProTV Chisinau channel the material could be used "both in the civilian nuclear industry and for military purposes to produce weapons of mass destruction".

The source and intended destination of the uranium were not clear, he said.

I wonder where it came from.

Related thread:


"Moldova seizes £7 million worth of enriched uranium":

www.abovetopsecret.com...

They were having a big party in Tiraspol today. Soviet style...


The Moscow Times: Transdnestr Defiantly Marks Independence

02 September 2010


TIRASPOL, Moldova — Shunned by the world community and held at arm's length even by main ally Russia, Moldova's tiny rebel Transdnestr defiantly marked 20 years of unilateral independence in full Soviet style Thursday.

Tanks rolled down the capital's main thoroughfare in a show of saber rattling, while veteran separatist leader Igor Smirnov praised Russia for keeping its troops there as a guarantor of stability and attacked "nationalist fascists" in Moldova.

Tiraspol refuse to compromise

They want full independence...


RFE/RL: Moldova Says Transdniester Separatists Not Ready To Compromise

September 23, 2010


Moldova's government says Transdniester separatists are holding on to their goal of full independence and thereby jeopardizing international efforts to resolve one of Europe's last "frozen conflicts," RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.

Moldovan Reintegration Minister Victor Osipov told RFE/RL that Transdniester officials are unwilling to compromise on their wish to be recognized as a full-fledged state, while Moldova and the international community are ready to grant them "only the largest possible autonomy."

Chisinau-Odessa train route via Transnistria


Ukrainian Ambassador was first passenger of Chisinau-Odessa train

The Chisinau-Odessa train will travel through the Transnistrian region from today, October 1. The train set off from the Chisinau Railway Station at 7.00

According to Premier Vlad Filat, who took part in the ceremony to open the Chisinau-Odessa train route, this is a significant date as the given route was resumed after a pause of four years. The Prime Minister said steps are being taken to resume the movement of freight trains to Ukraine via Transnistria.

Also:

Direct telephone connection between "the banks of the Nistru".


Filat, Smirnov agree to reconnect fixed-line telephone networks

1 October 2010


Chisinau and Tiraspol agreed to reconnect the fixed-line telephone networks between the banks of the Nistru River.

The agreement was reached by Prime Minister Vlad Filat and the Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov during the Sheriff Tiraspol - Dinamo Kiev encounter of the Europa League played in Tiraspol, Info-Prim Neo reports.

The direct telephone connection between the banks of the Nistru was halted in 2003.