The breakaway Moldovan region of Transdniestria, long under Russian control since a conflict in the early 1990s, has moved to join the Russian Federation. Moscow may feel that the timing is right to acquire the former Soviet territory that is mostly made up of ethnic Moldovans but has a significant ethnic Russian presence as well.
The region recently began an internal process to formerly ask Moscow for permission to move the territory under Russian control. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov would not comment on the news. “I cannot answer this question, I don’t know any reaction (of the Kremlin on this decision),” he said. “We need to understand on what such actions are based,” he added, giving no more details.
Transdniestria President Yevgeniy Shevchuk has earlier ordered to set up a state commission within two weeks on bringing the legislation of the unrecognized republic in line with Russia’s federal law, reports Russian state news agency TASS.
He signed a decree on implementing the outcome of the referendum held in September 2006 when the overwhelming majority of citizens voted for the independence and further accession to Russia. Moscow has not said if it will recognize the earlier referendum. Russian troops have been permanently stationed in the eastern region of Moldova since the 1990s.
