Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Good afternoon. This is "Broadcast with the President". Of course, the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vadim Nikolayevich Krasnoselsky is in our studio. We communicate in this format today. Good afternoon, Vadim Nikolayevich.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Good afternoon.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
We want to start with one of the most discussed topics. This is terrorist attacks attempt on the territory of Pridnestrovie. Security Service of Ukraine was the organizer. You turned to the Security Service of Ukraine not so long ago and said that a terrible tragedy, some kind of tragic mistake was prevented thanks to Pridnestrovie. This mistake is theoretically a war? Or maybe even a world war, Vadim Nikolayevich?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
You know, an ambiguous question in terms of assessing the level of resonance. By the way, I addressed not only those performers whom you named, but ultimately those who organized all this. And who organized? The question is still open. The level of organization is still unclear, let's just say who was behind it all.
As for the consequences, I came to a certain conclusion in the process of investigating this criminal case. I keep this investigation under control. There is a tendency that the forces behind the organization of this terrorist act saw the onset of certain consequences. This is Moldova's withdrawal from the 1992 Agreement. Having accused Russia that it is not coping with its peacekeeping functions, that it has grown together, for example, with the local authorities, that peacekeepers – citizens of the PMR who have Russian citizenship in fact, that is are not capable of ensuring peace – can withdraw from the 1992 Agreement. Then, perhaps, there would be a chain reaction to withdraw from the CIS. May be, who knows. This is like taking a stone, throwing it into the water and thinking that there will be only two circles of consequences. Those who generated it, conceived it, worked it out, they thought about two circles of consequences on this water. In fact, if you throw a stone into the water, there will be many circles, many consequences. Why did I apply, I said that we did not allow a tragic mistake to be made, which, unequivocally, would have overwhelmed you too, you simply do not know about it yet or did not know. The consequences would have been numerous after the terrorist act, especially in relation to the OSCE Mission, where the Chairman of the OSCE Mission, Mr. Osmani, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Ms. Kelly Keiderling, other high-ranking officials of the OSCE Mission and European diplomats, were under threat. Of course, the consequences could be irreversible, up to the deployment of troops to investigate this case, then there would already have been a terrorist attack on the territory of Pridnestrovie. I mean some kind of foreign police forces. Who knew how Russia would react to everything that is happening and to the accusations against itself in this part. There would be a very big risk of the conflict, which is now going on in Ukraine, going beyond the borders of Ukraine. That would be the biggest danger. By the way, everyone is afraid of this. With all diplomats I speak with, everyone says that this is very bad, this is a tragedy, this should not happen, these conflicts are absolutely impossible to go beyond the borders of Ukraine, of course. Why? Because any way out is a step towards a world war. According to modern weapons, any world war is a nuclear war. Maybe someone wanted it? Basically, it may happen that someone wanted it. It's hard to judge. Nevertheless, Pridnestrovie, Moldova would be involved, of course. Romania is already a NATO country. There is a direct conflict between Romania as a NATO country and the Russian Federation, which would protect its citizens here, on the territory of Pridnestrovie, there are 220 thousand Russian citizens, and the rest are compatriots. Do you understand? Here is a world war, here is a nuclear war.
I look at everything that's going on, and you know, since the Caribbean crisis, the world has been on the brink. I love history, I studied this Caribbean Crisis as it happened. The leaders of the geopolitical powers were smart enough to prevent it, to prevent a catastrophe, not to take this tragic step. I do not see the sober mind of the leaders now; they are heading for an escalation, by and large, towards what is called a nuclear war.
The 9th of May is coming soon. We will honor veterans of World War II. Do you know how the First, Second World War differs from a possible third? There is one factor. There will be no veterans in the third world war, no one at all. There will be no world. If someone thinks that he will be a veteran of the third world war, then he is mistaken. You can be a veteran of a local conflict or a certain war: in Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, but there will be no veterans in the world war, that's the point. So the action that was intended to be done here would have wide implications in fact.
The detainees (there were two main perpetrators) give confessions. Cases are not sent to the court based on the confessions only, this is wrong. Weapons and means of committing terrorist acts that were being prepared were confiscated from us. This is a car with hexogen, striking elements, photo and video equipment, other vehicles, personal belongings, as you know. 36 examinations were carried out. Testological, ballistic, and most importantly, DNA examinations. For example, if one or another detainee explained that he was in a room, monitored a military unit, or used a vehicle, or loaded this bomb, made a detonator, DNA was taken everywhere. We confirmed or refuted the involvement of a person in this particular action by conducting DNA examinations. By and large, half of all the appointed examinations, of which thirty-six, are DNA. We fully confirmed the participation of these persons by examinations. Do you understand?
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
That they are telling the truth?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Yes, sure. That is, we confirm what they say. They have nowhere to go from this. We are absolutely honest and open. If anyone doubts, it's their problem. There is no need to doubt, but you need to know that this is a real fact, unfortunately. I myself would be very happy if at a certain stage they told me that these are crazy people, they slandered themselves that this is not true, nothing like this should have happened. I would breathe with relief as a leader, as a responsible person for Pridnestrovie, for the Pridnestrovian people, I would breathe with relief.
This is a real terrorist act that was being prepared against the OSCE Mission. We confirmed during the investigation of the criminal case both the guilt of these detainees and their intent. The terrorist attack did not take place in relation to the officials of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in Tiraspol. The saddest thing is that they prepared it in a crowded place. The curators who sent these terrorists to carry out these attacks, they specifically chose a crowded place, one of the central places in the city of Tiraspol.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
For more people to die?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Of course. The purpose was more resonance, more accusations against Russian Federation as a peacemaker.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
Vadim Nikolayevich, why is the topic of terrorist attacks being ignored by the Moldovan authorities and Moldovan politicians in your opinion? Why are they silent? If they say that Pridnestrovie is a part of Moldova, and a terrorist act was being prepared here, on the territory of their state as they consider, then there must be at least some kind of reaction. Silence is complete.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Maybe there is simply a Moldovan trace in this terrorist attack?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
As for the Moldovan trace, I can officially state: the Moldovan trace in these criminal cases has not been established based on process of investigating the criminal case, the process of carrying out all possible operational measures. There is not. That is, the participation of the Moldovan special services in the preparation of these terrorist attacks, in the supervision of these detainees has not been confirmed. We do not blame Moldova in any way. What we have we say. Moldova is not involved. That's the question, also open. If Moldova is really not in these terrorist attacks, Ukraine acted independently on the territory of Pridnestrovie, then how is the interaction of special services established between them? They should interact in theory, after all these are two neighbors – Moldova, Ukraine. They definitely exchange some kind of operational data. An independent game of Ukrainian special services on the territory of Pridnestrovie is traced. They did not inform their Moldovan colleagues. This is what the Moldovan colleagues should have thought about in terms of the exchange of information and the whole topic in general. Why is this situation out of the public field? Probably because it's true, that's all. In addition, we are open and invited all kinds of special services. There were Europeans, there was an American citizen - the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova. We are ready to provide for review the materials of the criminal case, the results of examinations. Please see how these examinations are done. Please speak to the detainees.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Didn't they do it?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
No, they didn't.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
And why?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I do not know why. There are guesses, is it necessary to voice? Think for yourself and answer this question. This is the first. The second is the silence of the media, the European media. This is surprising, of course. It answers some questions on the other hand. Well, okay, as they say. Our job is to prove guilt, conduct all investigative actions and send the criminal case to court. Let me remind you that guilt is determined only by the court in the end. So it will be. As soon as possible, we plan to send this criminal case to court in May. There will already be a judicial investigation and a verdict of one kind or another.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
Vadim Nikolayevich, continuing the theme of Moldova. They are talking a lot about a peaceful solution to the Pridnestrovian issue now, but at the same time they are even more talking about the fact that they need weapons in Moldova. There is a constant conversation: "If we were in NATO." NATO specialists come, joint exercises, invite Moldovan politicians. What is a peaceful solution to the Pridnestrovian issue, if they are constantly talking about weapons, about the NATO?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Let's be reasonable, sober-minded. You need to know all the facts. Moldova has declared its aspirations to cooperate with NATO not since last year. Look more closely, two NATO headquarters and two centers were opened in Chisinau under the presidency of Igor Nikolayevich Dodon. There are four of them: two before him and two with him. So there was an interaction. There were joint exercises of the Moldovan-Romanian armed forces. There was participation of Moldova in various projects. There were constant trainings: officers studied at NATO universities. That was it. They remembered about it now – damn, damn, damn, they say. If some media hushed up this topic, this does not mean that this did not happen. We are in perfect control of the situation. We understand that this has always been the case. It has escalated today. This is evident, because there is a war going on in the territory of a neighboring state. This is a tragedy. Naturally, the war affects everyone: informationally, physically, and morally – whatever.
What are the neighbors doing? They arm themselves. This is bad, of course. We comment negatively on the ongoing arming of the neighbors. It`s naturally. When a neighbor has a fire, keep a fire extinguisher ready. Do you understand what the nuance is? We must understand all these processes and yet come to the conclusion that they are absolutely objective and natural. Unfortunately, while this process will proceed. We are tracking all of these issues. This worries us too. This is somewhere nervous. What can we do? This is a process that cannot be stopped due to the current global geopolitical situation.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, Kishinev's attempts to escalate – they exist in other areas as well. For example, the “law on separatism” has been adopted. There was political persecution before, a lot of criminal cases. A citizen of our republic Andrei Samoniy was sentenced to 15 years. Thank God, thanks to your efforts, the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs managed to release him. He spent three years in a prison in Moldova for nothing, on a completely incomprehensible sentence. What would you advise Pridnestrovians, taking into account the fact that the “law on separatism” was adopted: do not go there or go, but be more careful? Or will we protect everyone anyway? What are your thoughts on this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
You are absolutely right about the "separatism law". He is completely incomprehensible. I still do not understand what Moldova wanted to show by this. The Moldovan Criminal Code has a lot of articles of criminal content, according to which any citizen, non-citizen of Moldova, can be prosecuted for terrorism, for sabotage, for other illegal acts. The Moldovan legislators singled out a separate entity called "separatist". What is meant by this is not open clearly in fact. By and large any citizen of Pridnestrovie, any citizen of the Republic of Moldova and any foreign citizen who allegedly finances this or that “separatism” can be attracted under this article. The article is structured in such a way that any citizen who is on the territory of Moldova and outside the territory of Moldova can be brought under the subject of this crime. How this article will be understood and applied by the prosecutor's office, the investigation and the court, in the end, time will tell.
The situation of Samoniy is alarming and frightening. Samoniy was judged absolutely for nothing after all: there was not even a crime event there. They took the person, appointed him guilty. It was simply more convenient for them to work with him: he was a citizen of Moldova, he went to change his passport, he was detained there. He is a former member of the Pridnestrovian militia. They were confident in their action, in their provocation, that they would succeed and show us that they could do this to anyone. That's what they actually said. I know what they said – those people who provoked all this. Let me remind you that he was detained in January 2020. The President of Moldova was Igor Nikolayevich Dodon then. I repeatedly told him directly that they, so to speak, should return to their original positions, that they should not continue the escalation against Samoniy, that they should stop engaging in nonsense, that this is a challenge, and we will absolutely have to respond to this challenge, we will defend our citizen, citizen of Pridnestrovie. He's innocent even more. The court itself, it is akin to the level of 1937. This is not pathos. I remind you: the courts of the NKVD troikas tried, and often in the folder in the form of an accusation there was only a report from the detective in 1937-38. That's all. No more evidence was needed – only report from the detective that they found out that he was an enemy of the people there or committed one or another illegal act. The court of the troika judges. What happened in Moldova? Three judges also judged (the court of first instance – three judges passed the verdict), and the charge was based on the report of the detective of the Information Security Department. Here is a direct analogy. Moldova trampled on its so-called independent judiciary in this case. The man was sentenced and incarcerated in prison for 15 years based on the report of one detective. No crime event. Direct projection 1937-38. That's when we were now reburialing the victims of political repressions, which I spoke about: so as not to repeat. But the facts are already there. Little facts, but they are facts, and you can't get away from them. Naturally, after the verdict was passed, I personally got involved, and so did the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We started addressing everyone. I want to express my gratitude to the OSCE Mission, which really understood this fact. Of course, they did not comment, they did not have the right to comment, but nevertheless they provided legal protection, and thanks to the assistance of the OSCE Mission, a number of articles have already been revised among other things, a number of articles have been canceled. Samoniy was released three years later. He stayed there for three years. This case is a lesson to everyone, an indicator that, as they say, anyone can be in his place. Therefore, I want to advise the citizens of our republic to be vigilant and know what it is. How things will develop further, time will tell. It is a fact that we will protect our citizens. Protection does not imply a quick release in any case. Unfortunately, this is so, here's the nuance. Therefore, we must be careful and vigilant.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
We see that many questions that used to be simple and natural are acquiring a political tinge. Look, it’s, and there’s only talk about celebrating, not celebrating, how to celebrate, who will celebrate, what to wear, the eve of May 9, is it possible to go with a portrait of your grandfather, great-grandfather or father ... Why is that? May 9 is a holiday of people who survived the most terrible war, were able to survive, come back home, build new families. It all turned into a political issue. May 9 is still considered a holiday in Israel, because millions of Jews were exterminated, and it is a holiday without any political issues for them. You are reading the news feed – some kind of nightmare is happening now. Why is this happening? Why is this rewriting taking place, who benefits from it and who is behind all this, in your opinion?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
You answered the question yourself: history is being rewritten. Former winners are slandered. They try in general to remove the Soviet Union from the winner pedestal in this war. Only the allies appear to be the winners, which were Great Britain and the United States of course. They were allies, they won together to one degree or another, definitely. But the main burden, the burden of the war, was borne by the Soviet people, the Soviet Union. This is also a fact. Many people don't like it. If you look at the history books of European states, the Soviet Union is not even mentioned there. Only the conspiracy of two tyrants is mentioned – the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and that's it, period.
What can we do? This is an element of an ideological war, an ideological struggle. Although, if you take it concretely and look at the fact, who liberated Europe, who liberated the prisoners of death camps, Buchenwald, Auschwitz? This is a Soviet soldier-liberator. Who took Berlin by storm, etc.? All answers will be found in history. You can go to the corresponding site, the Historical Portal, take a history textbook and see for yourself. If we talk about the role of the Soviet Union, Great Britain, the United States, the allies, then everyone contributed, of course. There was a lend-lease, although the Russian Federation only recently paid for it, but it was all for money.
The opening of the second front, for example. There is a lot of talk about why the Allies opened the second front only in June 1944. Why not before? Why not in the 1941, not in 1942? 1942 was a very difficult year for the Soviet Union. Why not in 1943 – after the Kursk Bulge? Why in 1944 exactly? I read some historians, I do not agree with them, that the Americans and the British were supposedly specifically waiting for the Soviet Union to run out of strength and it was about to be almost defeated in order to weaken their future competitor, geopolitical competitor. I disagree with this. When the Allies opened a second front, Hitler's headquarters nevertheless decided how to respond to the opening of a second front. Field Marshal Model – large formations of the Wehrmacht were assembled under his leadership, 30 divisions as I know. I did not prepare, just-in-time as they say, I can mix up the details somewhere. They inflicted a colossal defeat on the British and Americans, the allied forces in autumn and winter, that is, from 1944 to 1945. They were displaced in Europe to the north. By and large, it was about the collapse and destruction of the entire group of allies. Churchill (if anyone is interested, find this letter, it is in the public domain) turned to our Supreme Commander-in-Chief Stalin then with a request that the Soviet Union start an offensive operation earlier in January. Vistula-Oder and another second operation. This operation was being prepared by the Soviet Union for the end of January - the beginning of February. Churchill turned to Stalin and said that they were in a catastrophic situation, wrote, that who, if not you, knows what the environment, appealed to 1941-1942, if you don’t help, we will be finished, , they say, roughly speaking. There is only one request – to start offensive operations earlier, not to postpone it until the end of January, but to start a little bit, even for a day, but earlier, which will help a lot. This was a secret letter. Now it is opened in the public domain, of course. You know, this letter was permeated (Churchill wrote it personally) with anxiety, respect for the Soviet Union and a great request. Churchill did not demand, he simply asked, it was really a request. Stalin responded to this request. The troops received the order, and 15 days earlier, these offensive operations were launched. They were the fastest in the history of World War II. Soviet troops lost a lot of personnel during this operation.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Because we started early?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
One of the factors is the early start of course, because the ammunition had not yet been delivered, the convoys were not so provided, the same fuel and lubricants, and so on. Due to the spirit of the Soviet soldier, by and large, the defense was broken through, Poland was completely liberated, and after these operations, Soviet troops entered Germany. Naturally, those divisions that held the allies and pressed them to the north were withdrawn, sent to counter the Soviet troops and eventually defeated. Only this saved the allies from total annihilation. Here is the answer: the Allies could not open the second front for one reason, because no one would allow it. The Wehrmacht would have crushed them, crushed them in 1942, in 1941 and in 1943. Even 1944, they couled in principle crush them. Only thanks to the intervention of Stalin and the Soviet Army the Allied troops were saved, and in our troops would not have helped – they were too far away 1942-1943. Here is the answer to the question. No need to look for malicious intent, supposedly there was some kind of political game. Churchill did not play then, he then fought and fought for real, as an ally. Nevertheless, the Wehrmacht was strong even in 1944. The opponent was very serious and offered due resistance. I say again only thanks to the Soviet soldier was put an end to this war. Thanks to the courage and steadfastness of the Soviet soldier and those who forged the weapons of Victory in the rear. This feat was accomplished. Just imagine. There are numbers. All factories, all production facilities were withdrawn from the European part of the territory, which was subsequently occupied, to the Urals, to Siberia. The evacuation went on for 1941, mostly 1942. When Hitler was informed that production facilities were being evacuated and that theoretically they could establish the production of tanks, ammunition, etc. somewhere in Siberia, in the Urals, he laughed, he underestimated the opportunity. Do you understand? He said it's impossible. He didn't believe in it. They told him that it was necessary to bomb the nodes, communications, the railway, he said – leave it alone, this is impossible. Like, spend ammunition at the front, that is, underestimated. It was the feat, and the feat of certain people. Compare this to the feat at the front: to transport all these defense plants for the production of everything necessary for the front is one feat in that fuss, in that turmoil, in that confusion, in these bombings. The second feat was when the director of the plant was given some money, directly in cash, a pistol, a revolver, a safe and a tent. Here is the plant. He had to give ammunition in a month. This is also a feat. These machines stand under some kind of awnings, and these shells, bombs were made on them, or steel is poured for the tank when in the rain, in the snow, in frost, in the cold. Who would do it? Do you know the number of enterprises opened in the Urals and Siberia per day? 1-3 factories were opened daily! A dozen factories a week opened from scratch throughout 1942-1944. 10 factories were opened a week, you know? Right now, if you give anyone a revolver, dollars or rubles in cash, a tent and say - go, open it. I would look at it. This is the spirit of the Soviet people, the spirit of the Soviet soldier – that's all that won. The main contribution at the front, unequivocally, but there the contribution was no less in the rear. Who was at the machines? Old people, children and women. There was the strictest discipline: up to the execution for being late for work. People didn't get enough sleep for years... It was this common spirit that won in the end. Of course, someone now needs to somehow reconsider this, hush it up, talk about European values. I always ask the question: what are the European values? What are they, where are they? In Buchenwald? In Auschwitz? Is this also Europe? Maybe there are also European values? What values are we talking about, from what period of time do we count values? What creates values? In general, what is democracy? It is also very important to understand. It is formed by the people living in a certain territory. Democracy is rule of the people. The people lead according to established traditions in a particular area. Here we have traditions of 100, 200, 300 years. We have a traditional society, people live as they like. This is a form of higher democracy. Therefore, each nation has its own democracy, that is, the way it is used to. The Europeans have their own democracy, they are used to it. There are no questions, it must be respected. Americans have their own democracy. Yes, it has a place to be, it is its own, it must also be respected. Muslim nations have their own democracy. They are used to it, we must respect it. China, India, Japan have their own. And so on. That is, the way of life is based on their traditions, centuries-old, millennium-old traditions. When someone comes up with a project of some kind of democracy: it's so good here, let's try it like that – well, this is nonsense. Therefore, everything is accepted with hostility and there is a conflict in the end. Imposing someone's values, and that's what democracy is called, is very dangerous and leads to conflict, to war. We observe how the world order works, when someone tries to impose their values under the guise of democracy, and what comes of it. Dangerous. I am a traditional, I love and know history, as a person who is great on history, of course. As for the feat of the Soviet people and the need to celebrate Victory Day, there is no doubt. This is a fact that does not require any proof. Therefore, there is no need to argue: I took a portrait of my grandfather and go, bow to the feat of the Soviet people in this terrible war. The Soviet Union, the multinational state, the Soviet soldier should be grateful for the fact that they liberated the world from Nazism and fascism for that period of time. We are not talking about defeated Germany, Hungary, Austria, Romania, etc. They were victims of this ideology, they are victims in reality. They are victims of fascist and Nazi ideology in a global sense. It was the Soviet soldier who liberated these states from fascism and Nazism. That's the only way I see the situation. This is what we need to talk about, and not to inflate these currents again after a certain amount of time.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, if I may, a question about an urgent matter, in particular about the standard of living. The inhabitants of Pridnestrovie are always interested in this question. Prices are rising, this happens in principle everywhere, including on the territory of our republic. Salaries of some state employees were raised, pensions grew a little, but it is clear that this is not how it all feels, given the rise in prices. What will happen next with this? Will the state be able to raise salaries and pensions?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
We will immediately raise it as soon as there is an opportunity. This is our priority, and we seriously discussed this possibility with the deputies of the Supreme Council, with the Government even in the last ten days of this year. We will use all our reserves to increase pensions and salaries if possible. This is right.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
What about utility bills? In Moldova: it would seem that Pridnestrovie provides them with inexpensive electricity compared to other producers, but they still receive reports that gas prices are growing, electricity is growing, they are all indignant. What do we have?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I will not comment on the actions of Moldovan monopolists, Moldovan leaders in terms of pricing gas and electricity for Moldovan citizens. It is not in my competence. Why should I speculate? You don't need to do this. I will talk about Pridnestrovie. We are not raising prices this year, we have frozen it, as you know. This is a burden on the budget, of course, because we compensate the difference between the money actually paid and the cost of these services to our monopolies in the form of electricity and heating networks.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Is this cost going up?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Of course it is growing. Service, materials - everything increases in price. Even if not to the same extent as certain materials in proportion, but nevertheless there is growth. We will operate under these conditions. This year it is, but we'll see. We will, if some kind of increase is expected, for example, next year, I'm afraid to guess, and then it should not exceed the ability of people to pay for these services from salaries, of course. If it is, then it is insignificant, or maybe it won’t, we’ll look at the situation.
The same situation with water for agricultural producers, it's about reclamation. We argued that from September 1, allegedly, it is possible to raise the price, but this year we will not raise the price of water for reclamation. We will leave it at the level of 70 kopecks. For example: water for irrigation costs somewhere over six or seven lei in Moldova, ten times more than in our country. We will come to some other indicator from January 1, perhaps, but again, to an accessible, normal one. We communicate with agricultural producers and say that yes, we need to go up, but we will not ruin the price component of land reclamation in agriculture. In no case. I want to say that on average, a ton of supplied water has a cost of 1 ruble 85 kopecks in my opinion, while our price is 70 kopecks. This difference of 1 ruble 10 kopecks is reimbursed by the state. Do you understand? We take on the burden. This is how we subsidize agriculture. Take the amount of water consumed per irrigation season. These are millions of liters, multiply by 1 ruble 10 kopecks – here is a subsidy for agriculture. Not with direct money, but through the price of water. We will move in this direction, we will not raise prices for the time being, and if we do, then to a small extent, so that agriculture develops. There are about 35000 hectares under irrigation, by the end of the year, we will fully fulfill this indicator in any case. This is a lot, because in 2017 there were eight or nine thousand, and now there are about 35000 hectares. 62000 hectares were irrigated under Soviet rule. We are already going beyond half of the indicators of Soviet power. Considering profitability and productivity, we are close to the indicators of the Soviet Union. We will continue. Thank God that we managed to do all this inside the republic. I have praised Elektromash more than once and now I want to praise the staff of this enterprise. It is they who are engaged in attachments, install motors, repair, sort out pumps. Previously, we counted on the Russian Federation, there was a joint program for land reclamation. We probably would not have succeeded with the Russian manufacturers as we did with the Elektromash plant. It is difficult to use the subjunctive mood here, but with Elektromash it turned out better. I'll explain why. As practice has shown, everything is individual. For example, there is a large barge on the Dniester in Vykhvatintsy, it plays the role of a pumping station, certain motors must be installed there. According to the technical characteristics, this barge would have sunk. Electromash developed special light-weight electric motors with good power so that this barge could withstand. That is, everything is very individual. Naturally, the production of pipes, all work is carried out by us. The only thing, that entrepreneurs buy themselves – are irrigation structures that spray water. Land reclamation provides additional jobs in agriculture. It all needs to be serviced. So we need to move, develop further in this part.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
Vadim Nikolayevich, you are saying that we need to develop further. How people perceive the current situation, the situation is unsettled. You say, well, we have already reached half of the area of irrigated land compared to the figure under the Soviet Union, and there will be more growth. We develop it, we do this. And where is Pridnestrovie now in difficult conditions finding money for the same Capital Investment Fund, for some kind of development? Well, let's just say maybe something non-core in this situation. For example, 20 thousand tulips were planted in the arboretum, and there was a huge queue this weekend. Several hundred people were queuing to go see the tulips. Why is this happening now? Maybe now is not the time, maybe to wait? Maybe solve some immediate problems?
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
From the category - maybe now is not the time?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Well, there are such opinions. You know, everything must be evaluated by certain numbers. Budget involves development. Take any state as example: the legislator, the president, the government should think about development. It is necessary in any case to repair what is in the state, without it there is no way, you will not get away from it. The roof suffered from a hurricane somewhere, started to leak, somewhere something sank, somewhere something fell, somewhere something needs to be rebuilt, somewhere it fell into disrepair, morally obsolete in any case. We have come to a common understanding, and the Government of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, and the Supreme Council, and the President, that it is necessary to fix a certain percentage of GDP and use it for development. Here is more - gross domestic product - what Pridnestrovie earns as a whole, respectively, a certain percentage should be directed specifically to repairs, to development. Only 2%. In fact, everything that is happening, all these repairs, the Capital Investment Fund is 2%, even a little less of the gross domestic product. More GDP - more money, less GDP - less money, that is, fixed 2% - that's all, please. This is with, let's say, a favorable situation. When suddenly a pandemic, hostilities, disrupted logistics make their own adjustments, you can reduce it. Maximum 2% for development. For example: the maintenance of all health care, namely the financing of the health sector - 5% of GDP per year. The development of the whole republic is 2%. Therefore, when you see the figures and assume sane funds, then you understand the need for these actions, of course. Where do we get money? We take money from the budget, of course, but with austerity and strict control. Here it’s not that it’s scary to overdo it, on the contrary: the more control, the better. Therefore, I aimed both public control and specialized structures, such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Economic Crime Department, the Ministry of State Security, etc., to control the spending of budget funds together with the public. Everyone should understand this. Everyone who undertakes to execute the Capital Investment Fund should know that there will be checks on everyone, that nothing will work without auctions, open auction - this is how it should be, and this is how it will continue to be. Yes, of course, we are saving and channeling funds, but we must not allow abuse at any level. This is also one of the rules. As for such trifles as tulips, yes, a trifle, but beauty. Do you understand what's the matter? 20 thousand tulips were planted. They all were paid off for the season this spring. In addition, these tulips were bought for sponsorship funds, but they were paid off, and all funds went to the budget of the city of Tiraspol. Do you understand?
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
That is the budget earned, right?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Certainly.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
It was paid by means of the tickets?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
It was paid off by means of the tickets, of course. They will bloom again next year. There is bloom again, and bloom again. They will delight the eyes of the inhabitants. We must give emotion to people, that is, use every opportunity for emotion. Grayness kills, it is like mold, this grayness. It's so hard for people, as you listen to TV, you can go crazy. People need a breather. Now, for example, May 1 has passed, our traditional May Days. Yes, these are our traditions, our fathers, mothers, grandfathers and so on. Of course, people went to nature with their families. Nobody forbids. We organized, for example, May 1 festival in Bendery. It was visited by about 20 thousand people, at one time there were 7-8 thousand. Catering, locations, concerts, some groups perform, the carousel yard works, people joy. It was visited by 20 thousand people. I think there were a lot of visiting guests. We didn't really keep track. Why did people come? To see that it is not necessary to spend money on this and that there is no time for this? No. They came for emotions, to get away from the TV, from all this negative information, these fears that exist in society, one hundred percent, to come, rejoice, drink a glass of wine, eat barbecue, ride children on a carousel. Just watch and get some fresh air. The same thing happened in other cities and regions, including Tiraspol. People follow emotions. These are the opinions that you are talking about, they are akin to some low vibrations, this dullness. Maybe it is beneficial for someone to drive people into this gray mass, gray zone, so that people hate everyone. No, you can't do that. I'm not like that, anyway. No matter how difficult it is, I will do my best to calm people down and give them hope, and so it will continue.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
How often do you and your family attend such events?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I visit periodically, but mostly without unnecessary PR, without video cameras. I usually go for a walk with my wife, with the children, I rejoice with the people, why not, as everybody used to do. This is fine. I am also human. I feed on the same emotions. When people like it, this general enthusiasm is what inspires me for further actions, and, let's say, I am sure that I am right. I am doing the right thing as the President, as the Government as a whole.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, you are a supporter of tougher traffic rules. In principle, there have always been - in different directions. Maybe not the rules themselves, but punishments for breaking the rules. Now there is an initiative to increase fines for an unfastened seat belt, for heavy trucks that break the rules: they drive in the wrong places and destroy roads. Do you think this increase, tougher punishment, will it affect the fact that the roads become safer?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Victor, You know, I'm not for making things tougher, I'm for saving a person's life. It's a completely different philosophy. It's just that people who question it, they haven't faced life. To give you an example, when I was the Minister of the Interior, I was a supporter of harsh penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol. Of course you can drink, but don't drive intoxicated. If you drank and drove, in fact, it is a criminal matter. In general, in many states, if a person in a state of intoxication hits a person, he is accused of murder, manslaughter. He is tried for murder. There are completely different terms of imprisonment: 15 years or more. This is also a European practice. Ours is softer, but also tough, in principle. I saw the numbers - the number of people dying on the roads of our republic. The analysis was carried out. 70% of all traffic accidents, after which there was a fatal outcome - either the driver, or passengers, or the person who crossed the road died, they related to drunk driving. Naturally, seeing such an unfavorable picture, they came to the conclusion that they should simply be deprived of a driver's license for drunk driving. In the vast majority. There were some nuances, of course. Everything happens - this is life. To deprive the rights in the vast majority. So, now the numbers are interesting. Up to 60 people died on the roads of the republic per year before the introduction of such a tough attitude towards this act. Two years later, when we began to severely deprive drunkards of driving licenses, figuratively speaking, behind the wheel, 30-35 people began to die. That is 50% less. With almost one tough decision and integrity, we saved the lives of 30 people. This is people's lives. These are 30 tragedies, 30 orphans, widows, etc. Therefore, it is justified. I will be principled, because people's lives are behind this principledness. It is a fact.
As for the unfastened seat belt, about two weeks ago there was an accident between "Foishor" and Parkany. And the Volkswagen Passat station wagon (I just drove by, saw the consequences) hit sideways. The car has folded. Only thanks to the fact that the seat belt was fastened, the driver survived. He was with bruises, got hurt. And if the seat belt was not fastened, he'd be dead. Here is the price of an unfastened or fastened seat belt - the life of a person. That's all. Therefore, what comments can there be here ... I am not in favor of punishing. I'm all for saving someone. It's a completely different philosophy. It's just that people sometimes understand only through rigidity unfortunately. You need to come to understanding in a different way, thinking that this is your life, the life of your loved ones, your children. You need to make sure that you are alive, and everyone else.
As for heavy trucks, this is not a question for me. This is a question for the residents of the village of Parkany, the residents of the village of Speya, Teya, Tokmazeya, Bychok. These people complain that heavy vehicles destroy both the road surface and their houses. When a 40-ton truck passes - it's a train, the vibration is crazy. I understand that someone has a business. Why do business at someone else's expense? I have a lot of people's demands, completely justified, to ban such tonnage, super-tonnage vehicles, to prevent them from passing through populated areas. The penalties are minimal. Well, there is a video camera, so what? The fine was 100 rubles. It is more profitable for him to pay a fine and drive through the settlement. You can not do it this way. This is the life and convenience of the people who are protected by the law. No one has ever stood on this philosophical understanding - to punish, to prevent. to Save. This is a completely different situation. But you have to work through such methods.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
I have a question about salvation. About four hundred Pridnestrovians received assistance from the state last year, as far as I know, and not just help from the state, but saving their lives due to the fact that the state paid for their surgery and treatment abroad. This is about four hundred cores who traveled to Moldova. Pridnestrovie pays for the operation in Moldova. How about this year? What will happen next? Isn't it more profitable, perhaps, to build some kind of center here, since it is in such demand?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Let's start with the fact that this is again a question about saving people. When I communicate with my subordinates, with officials, I always say one phrase: if you have a topic under discussion and the issue of a person’s life appears in this topic, discard everything, save a person. This coronary stenting is one of the methods of saving a person's life. In general, if we evaluate mortality after coronavirus, then it caused enormous damage to the health of the population - not in terms of pulmonary problems, it all turned out to be a trifle that is they cured a person and that’s it, but big complications in the heart, internal organs, cancer also flared up, joints people have pain, joints are crumbling. I was considering the application (maybe this woman will look): a young woman, 30-something years old. She literally in a panic wrote a letter to the President (it was about two years ago) that her hip joint collapsed after suffering a coronavirus - one and the other, you understand? And she has two children. She is a young woman. She wrote: what should I do, I'm disabled, I'm in a wheelchair, this is horror, the end of my life. Of course, we helped her, changed her one joint and the second. She is a full-fledged healthy person now. It was precisely such cases that even then made us think about the consequences of the coronavirus. Do you remember, I said at meetings that post-COVID rehabilitation should be introduced. Because I already understood very well, and, of course, I always evaluated the reports of the chief doctors, the Minister of Health, that we will have many post-COVID problems, and we need to do something with them right away, solve them. Not later, in a year or two, when they arose, but in advance. This element, stenting, when a stent is placed on a person, at the level of the state program, we have provided an opportunity for a person to receive this procedure. We saved 400 people last year. Just over 400 people received a stent. If this operation had not been carried out, people would have left, unfortunately. People would leave us. It is thanks to the program that people are alive. This stent does not reduce life expectancy, no, it does not affect in any way, it heals a person. The program is running. Firstly, when a person calls the 103 line, says that he is not well, his heart is taken by an ambulance, he is brought to the central hospital, where he is given thinning drugs for a blood clot, they bring him to a normal state, and on medical aviation, on an ambulance he immediately flies, as they say, to the city of Chisinau. There we have a contractual relationship, they immediately put him on the operating table and put a stent on him. He stays in the clinic for another day and goes home the next day, alive and well. Not a single person died in our country along the route during the period of crossing this section. There are fatal outcomes, there are very few of them, in the hospital, but when it is already impossible to save a person simply because of the general physical condition, the heart stops. By and large, we deliver everything on time. This is a great merit of the Ministry of Health and all those doctors. Deepest gratitude to them for this. We have developed this program, and they work out its mechanisms simply by five points. I want to remind you that this surgical intervention costs about two thousand conventional monetary units. The state pays for this manipulation. Now answer the question yourself: if there were no this state program, firstly, people would not know where to turn, and secondly, there would be no money in the vast majority of cases. Therefore, we take on this burden – with the philosophy that this is a human life and it can be saved. We need to work, we need to spend money and save people. As for the development of this system in Pridnestrovie, it is possible, of course. This is a complex process that requires not only powerful equipment, modern and expensive, but also appropriate personnel. Maybe we'll get to that sometime. So far, as practice shows, the fact that we have a contractual relationship is salvation for us. Specialists in Kishinev are fully practicing their work to save our citizens. Deepest gratitude to them too for this. By the way, no one there takes a penny from anyone, try to thank someone there, they will at least misunderstand you there and be afraid to have monetary relations with you. Pridnestrovie pays for medical services for its citizens in full. The same applies to the hip joints. 285 people as far as I know changed their hip joints in Kishinev last year. This is the result of a coronavirus infection in most cases, including young people. 40 joints were changed here, in Pridnestrovie. Now we are moving on to knee replacement in Pridnestrovie. 6 have already been replaced and quite successfully to date. There are specialists who studied in the Russian Federation, have the relevant knowledge and gain experience. As for money: spend - not to spend, time - no time. We spend about 37 million rubles on treatment abroad (this applies not only to these procedures, but also to others). For comparison: about 3-5 million rubles were allocated for treatment abroad in 2016, 2017. 37 million now. They are all learning. These are people's lives – that's the point. So we will continue, there are no other options. I tell everyone: if there is a choice between a person's life and everything else, everything else is aside.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
Vadim Nikolayevich, probably the final question about sports news. You once mentioned that the city of Tiraspol should have its own city team. There is Sheriff, this is the Champions League, this is Real Madrid, Manchester, and there should be the Tiraspol club...
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
…who will appear and win game with Sheriff.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
This is debatable. And where to get the players? And does Tiraspol need it?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Of course Tiraspol needs it. I'll explain why. Of course, the Sheriff team is a great team. The other day they won the semi-finals of the Cup, reached the final. They will play with the Balti team. This is a team of professionals, those who are focused on the Champions League. They have the bar up, they beat Real Madrid. We are talking about something else. How did the Tigina team play in Bendery, and of whom it consisted? Vasya, Petya, Seryozha, Gena, those who work as a plumber, electrician or simply in the security of the Sheriff supermarket. Once they went in for sports, football, perhaps they graduated from the Sheriff Academy. Then life decreed that they did not find themselves in big European football, but they love football. They love football, they play football, they want to play. They have their own ambitions. These guys make a team. Everyone knows this team. I remember when Tigina played at the Bendery city stadium, there was nowhere for an apple to fall, everyone came to look at their own. Do you understand? Some idols are already being born. The same situation is in Tiraspol. Tiraspol should have a Tiraspol team with a clear and understandable name Tiraspol, which will consist of local guys, residents of Tiraspol, those who graduated from the Sheriff Academy or the football school in Tiraspol, those who are ready to play.
We need to bring the stadium to mind. This is what we are doing and will continue to do. As soon as the stadium is ready, I told the head of the administration Oleg Anatolyevich, “Please, form a football team, the Tiraspol team”. Although he is a boxer, it is difficult for him so far, but nevertheless, there is nowhere to go, the Tiraspol team must play and please the Tiraspol residents. Our neighbors, our relatives, our people from Tiraspol will play there. This is interesting. I say again, Sheriff is interesting, but this is a completely different level. In the Champions League, somewhere out there. Here is the city team, let it play in the 1st, 2nd division, it doesn’t need to go to the big leagues in the end, but I can tell you for sure that this team will collect stadiums of football fans.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
There will be a team in general.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
We will strive, of course.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Thanks a lot. The President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vadim Nikolayevich Krasnoselsky. Thank you for coming to us, answering our questions, we are always waiting for you. It was "Broadcast with the President". All the best. Goodbye.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Thank you. Goodbye.