RT:
Vadim Nikolaevich Krasnoselsky, President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Thank you very much for agreeing to this interview. We would, of course, like to start with the most pressing issue. This is, of course, gas supplies to your region via Moldova. You recently said that there is cautious optimism, a little earlier you said that there is an agreement on humanitarian gas supplies, but we need to be a little patient. What stage are we at now?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
Yes, just the other day I spoke about cautious optimism, I will explain why. Generally Pridnestrovie does not put a spoke in the wheel of gas supplies to Pridnestrovie. This is suicidal – why do we need it? We are cold, our people are freezing, we need to solve problems. Naturally, in this paradigm, we accept Moldova's conditions. It was Moldova that declared that only Moldovagaz could supply gas to Pridnestrovie. We agreed. Although, of course, there are other suppliers that have a Moldovan license. Well, let's not argue, it's pointless, there's no need. Moldovagaz means Moldovagaz. On January 18 of this year, Tiraspoltransgaz for its part sent a corresponding request to Moldovagaz: please, if you want to supply gas to Pridnestrovie, supply it, please. We agree with this demands. And then we waited for an offer from our Moldovan colleagues, from Moldovagaz, from where the purchases would be made from. And Moldovagaz proposed making these purchases in Europe from a European supplier. We also agreed with these requirements. That's why I spoke of cautious optimism. But what happens next? For some un known or already understandable reason, the speakers of the President of Moldova and the government, the President and Prime Minister themselves began to make completely incomprihensible statements that politicize the process and exclude supplies, blaming Russia, blaming us, Pridnestrovie, for blocking the gas supplies. But this is a lie. Based on which, of course, I turned to the President of Moldova and called on her to take heed of the situation and make rational decisions on gas supplies to Pridnestrovie. At the same time, Tiraspoltransgaz guarantees payment for this gas. This is important. That is why we are waiting. And I want to draw attention to the repeated statements of the Moldovan authorities, President Sandu, that Moldova has an open gas pipeline, and they are ready to supply gas to Pridnestrovie. So deliver it. It has been 5 days already, even after the 18th there is no movement. On the contrary, the processes in my opinion are being artificially delayed. They are being delayed artificially, to aggravate the already difficult situation in Pridnestrovie.
RT:
You said that you are being accused of something. What exactly is Kishinev accusing you of?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
We are being accused of not accepting Moldova's assistance when it comes of gas supplies. But I cannot understand how this looks like in reality. We have agreed to all of Moldova's demands. Moldovagaz? Go ahead. European supplies? Fine. What else do you need? They are making unfounded accusations against us, without revealing the basis of these accusations: Tiraspol is to blame, Russia is to blame. But who is to blame and exactly what for is not clear. These are all populist explanations, very false, with one goal – to confuse and deceive people in reality.
RT:
They don't supply you with gas, as far as I understand?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
This situation arose essentially at midnight on January 1: Moldovagaz stopped supplying gas to Pridnestrovie. On December 28 last year, Moldovagaz officially notified Tiraspoltransgaz-Pridnestrovie that they would stop supplying natural gas to Pridnestrovie at midnight on January 1. That letter didn't contain anything else. There were no proposals or scenarios about how events could develop. There were no issues about assistance or anything like that. So we presented you with a fait accompli and left to our own device. At the same time Moldovan nationalists have repeatedly stated that we can buy gas anywhere and they will pass it through the network to Pridnestrovie. We encountered fierce resistance and a desire to prevent gas supplies to Pridnestrovie as soon as we started negotiating with one company or another.
RT:
What do they want to achieve?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
There are actually several scenarios when it comes to their goals, dividends. One of the scenarios is to drive Pridnestrovie to despair. This is the desire to see how the Pridnestrovian leadership failed to cope with the situation, which is not actually happening today. The desire to achieve a complete energy catastrophe, which will flow into a humanitarian catastrophe with the ensuing consequences. The desire to blame Russia for controlling this region, and so this scenario was allowed to develop.
RT:
Russia offers humanitarian gas supplies, and Maia Sandu called the supplies of humanitarian gas from Russia illegal despite the fact that the Pridnestrovians need it.
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
We are not talking about humanitarian gas supplies today. We are talking about purchasing gas from Moldovagaz on European spot exchanges or from other companies that supply gas in Europe. That's it. Everything with payment.
RT:
Even overpayment compared to what it was before?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
Yes, of course. It's not even worth discussing prices. They are two, three, four times higher than they were before.
RT:
But at the same time, Kishinev assures that you are supplied with gas to kindergartens and schools, that all vital supplies are there.
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
Yes, this is our gas. We saved it in December and left in a pipeline. We are offtaking our gas from this pipeline, you understand, right? We saved about 13 million cubic meters of gas in December, knowing that the situation would develop negatively based on the statements of the Moldovan authorities,. We left 13 million cubic meters of gas in the pipeline. We are now spending this gas little by little on social needs. This is not a gas supply. We take that gas which is ours, this is not a supply. We are just using it. These are different things. Moldovagaz does not supply us with gas.
RT:
Kishinev previously accused Moscow of energy blackmail with the aim of destabilizing the situation in Moldova, but at the same time, based on your words, I hear that some kind of energy blackmail is going on here, Kishinev towards Pridnestrovie, so the people suffer and take some action.
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
Let me tell you about some history. This is not the first time we have encountered inhumane actions by the Moldovan leadership towards Pridnestrovie. I want to remind you of the COVID pandemic. It is 2020. Remember what hysteria there was, global, regional? Large states failed in this problem, could not provide functional assistance to their citizens. I will not name them, everything is clear, this is already history. We also faced this problem. And Kishinev was sure then that we would fail in this humanitarian catastrophe, that we would have no one to treat people, save them, that people would die, and all this would entail enormous social consequences. Our administrative structure works very well back then and today. We coped with the situation better than our neighbors, with the pandemic. We saved people, provided them with everything they needed. We received protection, medicines and equipment through Moldovan territory because the Ukrainian border was closed. Moldovan authorities kept what was needed for two months, not letting it into Pridnestrovie. Then, you see, they believed that we would fail, and they would earn some political dividends from this. Now the situation is basically similar. They are waiting for Pridnestrovie to fail. But Pridnestrovie will not fail.
Discrimination on the basis of territory is a criminal offense. Discrimination, blocking energy resources, depriving people of the opportunity to live in warm apartments and enjoy the basic benefits of civilization. This is done artificially, politicizing this issue.
RT:
You said that Kishinev is doing this for the sake of political benefits. For what political benefits and, most importantly, from whom?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
You asked the question before. This is the answer to the question you just asked. They say that Moscow wants to destabilize Moldova. I wonder how does this look physically? These are just statements, slogans. Moldovan politicians love to speak in the language of slogans. They say a slogan, but no one knows what is behind it. How can Pridnestrovie destabilize the situation in Moldova? Please, explain it to me. It is difficult for us. How will this look physically? The desire to accuse Russia? Simply destabilization. Well, that's all. This is the goal. Accusing Russia, accusing the so-called regime in Pridnestrovie. There are no other goals. Of course, these statements by Moldovan politicians – the president, the prime minister – about the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Pridnestrovie. This is completely beyond comprehension. This is a completely different institution. I would like to remind you that the 1992 agreements on the cessation of hostilities and the peaceful resolution of the Pridnestrovian issue are in effect between Moldova and the Russian Federation. July 1992. Based on this international document, the peacekeepers were brought here, to Pridnestrovie. Here is a joint peacekeeping mission in Pridnestrovie: Russia, Pridnestrovie and Moldova. Peacekeepers are also participating in the process of peaceful regulation. According to the statements and positions of all international partners of the "5+2" format, the withdrawal of peacekeepers from here is possible only after a complete, comprehensive solution to the Pridnestrovian issue. This issue can no longer be touched. It is taboo. And now, using the energy crisis, Moldovan politicians are talking about peacekeepers, about their withdrawal. This is not good enough? This is simply politicization of the process.
RT:
You agreed to vote, to take part in the European referendum in Moldova. You voiced your readiness to move towards rapprochement with Kishinev since last year. You are going to meet them halfway, but at the same time we see that Kishinev is completely ignoring your position. Is there any point in trying to revive this dialogue?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
There is a point in reviving the dialogue. It is absolutely obvious. You understand, without dialogue everything becomes very difficult later. No matter what the dialogue is. As I see it from my side, firstly, this understanding must be broken down into several components.
Dialogue in the "5+2" format. The "5+2" format is an established international format of communication between Moldova and Pridnestrovie, it includes Russia and Ukraine as guarantors, the OSCE as a mediator, and the United States and the European Union as observers. The entire globe in fact is practically participating in the regulatory process. And it worked. Effectively, ineffectively, but nevertheless, issues were discussed there, decisions were made by consensus. Both Pridnestrovie and Moldova had equal rights, equal responsibilities. This did not suit Moldova at all. Moldova broke this format in 2019 by not signing the final document in Bratislava, in the fall of 2019. There was an attempt to rewrite it, to return it for signature once again, so to speak, but Moldova did not agree to this, freezing this format.
RT:
Sandu's adviser said that if pro-Russian forces come to power in the parliamentary elections in Kishinev, Ukraine will have to intervene and give an immediate military response. How can one react calmly to this?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
By the way, I did not react calmly to this. This is the well-known assistant Vlad Kulminsky, who said this in his native language which I also understand well. I am Ukrainian by nationality of Polish origin, and Russian – do you understand how everything is intertwined here?). I listened attentively to this, so to speak, interview, where I actually caught Ukraine's incitement against Pridnestrovie. This is not good. I said so personally.
I don't know, maybe any government will be pro-Russian for PAS, unless they are the majority. This is Moldovan politics. Very rarely has there been a monopoly in the Moldovan parliament. Right now the PAS has a monopoly. After the parliamentary elections, maybe there will be no monopoly, there will be some coalitions. Of course, any group can be accused of pro-Russian positions. But it is the people who will make a choice. Do you understand this nuance? It is their right to make a choice. That's all. You fight for your electorate as best you can, prove your European values. Now, however, there will be a big problem with LGBT in Europe. How is that possible? They have cancelled LGBT there. That's it, they need to take down the flags. But what should we do here? In Moldova, these flags are hung on every corner. These gay parades took place: everyone spat in that direction, and the police protect them. And what about now? I wonder. We need to quickly rebuild again, change positions, adapt to the current trend. Well, we'll see. We haven't suffered from this. Pridnestrovie cherishes traditional values. We have a traditional society. All this vulgarity is alien to us, in fact. And besides, democracy is not permissiveness. We must not confuse the concepts. Democracy is the power of the people. This is normal. But what was imposed on Moldova, Bessarabia, Europe is permissiveness. This is not good. They will abandon it now and thank God!
RT:
Aren't you worried about the potential militarization around Pridnestrovie? On the one hand, you have Moldova, which is not very friendly towards you, and here is Ukraine, which seems ready to intervene. Are you not worried about the situation you are in now?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
Yes, it bothers everyone and it bothers us. We are not aggressors. We do not threaten Ukraine. We do not threaten Moldova. Any sane person in principle is against war. Ask any leader, any president – who will say that he is for war? And we are also against war. We are against the war in Pridnestrovie. Everyone knows my personal position very well. I am a military man. I understand what war is. I graduated from a specific university that provides knowledge on the nuclear scenario of events. It is clear that I have not served in this unit for a long time. But I understand what war is and what a nuclear development of war is, that it is unacceptable. I have always said that the war in Pridnestrovie is a direct path to a conflict between Russia and NATO. With escalation into a nuclear catastrophe. Some believed me, some did not believe me, some thought that I was scaring, mongering. I am not scaring anyone. The interests of NATO and the Russian Federation will collide here. I have no doubt about it. This can not be done under any circumstances. Ukraine has always been a good, kind neighbor for us. This has always been historically. When there was a war in 1992, Ukraine accepted our refugees from Pridnestrovie. Now there is trouble in Ukraine. No questions. We accept refugees from Ukraine since the beginning of the military actions in Ukraine, 340 thousand Ukrainian citizens have entered Pridnestrovie. 340 thousand. Approximately 40 thousand of these stayed for permanent residence, stayed to live in Pridnestrovie. The rest moved on. But they lived here and there were no conflicts here . If we are talking about multinational segment Pridnestrovie, we have a Ukrainian lyceum, Ukrainian gymnasiums, the Center of Ukrainian Culture. If we are talking about our neighbors. Not to mention Russian schools, Russian gymnasiums, Russian cultural centers and so on. We are showing how it is possible to live in a large multinational family without hatred for each other. This irritates many, by the way. We show how it is possible. That is why we do not consider Ukraine an enemy for Pridnestrovie. It is wrong if someone thinks so. Naturally, we do not consider Moldova an enemy either.
RT:
How can this conflict be resolved if, for example, NATO is looking for this clash with Russia? If it is not in the interests of NATO countries and Europe for the two sides to reach an agreement, because they want to absorb Moldova into Europe. Why should they discuss what the Pridnestrovian Republic wants? Why should they resume the “5+2” dialogue? Of course, they will never agree to this if it is not beneficial to them. And now people are suffering in Pridnestrovie, while in Moldova they continue their pro-European line. Why do they need to resolve this dialogue?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
They speak differently when it comes to words, everyone is for continuing the negotiation process in one form or another, on other venues, and so on. In principle everyone calls for peaceful solution to the Pridnestrovian issue. None of the participants in the “5+2” format is calling for any military solution to the Pridnestrovian issue. By the way, the Moldovan leadership also calls for a peaceful solution to the Pridnestrovian issue. By and large, there is a consensus here – at least in principle. No one is pushing military aggression, no one is declaring that we will engage in revanchism and start a war in Pridnestrovie, so to speak. This is encouraging. By the way, I have previously said that the President of Moldova always publicly calls for peace talks, only peace talks, and in the future – a peaceful solution. But there will be no solutions without negotiations. That is why this conflict is being frozen. Unfreezing the conflict will be fraught with certain legal consequences. This is a violation of treaty obligations. Naturally, an attack on the trilateral peacekeeping forces is another factor. This will naturally create the necessity of protecting 220 thousand citizens of the Russian Federation living here. In general, this is the center of Europe. Why generate a new conflict in the center of Europe? On the contrary, we need to think about ending everything. Any conflict ends only with negotiations. Whether people want it or not, but sooner or later it will. Any war, even 100-year wars, ended with negotiations. And everything will end with negotiations sooner or later, I am sure of it. That is why I am saying: gentlemen, well, there is no need to start anything bad here. We have completely peaceful intentions. We are not aggressors. We do not threaten anyone. Let's come to an agreement. An agreement is a compromise. And a compromise is the movement towards each other by all parties. Not when one party gives up its positions, but when they move towards each other. Do you understand? That is when solutions are possible. If one side gives up its positions, there is a change of power, and these agreements are rolled back. And when there is a compromise, there is hope for their implementation. That is the difference.
RT:
You’ve said that everyone ultimately wants to come to an agreement, but we see that there is an energy crisis in your republic, people are suffering. And no one seems to say anything or reprimand Kishinev?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
Yes, you are correct, the so-called collective West in fact always acts as Moldova's advocate no matter what they did. They prevented us from supplies of goods and medicines, they justified it. They closed our accounts – they justified it. They closed our enterprises – they justified it. They block our foreign economic activity – they justified it. They block the movement of our voters to Moldova – they justified it. They do not supply gas – they justify it. I have already said more than once, I am already tired of talking about it. Dear Western politicians, do not act as advocates. This all ends badly. Analize the situation, make decisions honestly, like gentlemen, based on how it is in terms of the development of events. The truth is in reality, it must be seen and understood. If Moldova declares that, for example, we do not accept any assistance, then ask what exactly we do not accept. How does this happen? Do not listen to these slogans. This suits everyone today. Therefore, in apart from advocacy, Western politicians have little success in principle.
RT:
What I hear from you is that the collective West simply doesn't understand the issue. Do they believe what Koshinev tells them, and don’t they understand perfectly well what they are doing.
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
I think there are not stupid people. They all understand everything perfectly well, but they are not stupid people. I’ met them. I assure you, they all understand perfectly well. It's just that kind of content. That's the task. That's all.
RT:
And how might this task change?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
I wish I knew, I will express my opinion. Maybe I am wrong. Somewhere in 2017-2018, I gave an interview, when I was asked: when Pridnestrovie will be recognized. By the way, I have no doubt about it. I said when Pridnestrovie will be recognized: after the next geopolitical catastrophe, which is just around the corner. You can look it up in the archives and see. This is the history of this region. There is a cyclicality. I love history, I respect it. And there is such a concept as historical mathematics, when cyclicality is confirmed by numbers. So, by and large it turned out like this. Not to mention such grandiose catastrophes as the collapse of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, after which all these conglomerates, former nations have been shaken very much, of course. And I had no doubt about the developing geopolitical catastrophe that will happen. And so I said: Pridnestrovie will be recognized after the end of the next geopolitical catastrophe. This was said in 2017 or 2018. In fact, a lot has been decided based on the results of the military actions between Russia and Ukraine. When the negotiation processes begin, when there is an understanding, when all this will happen, probably the territorial fate of Pridnestrovie will be decided. I am convinced that the Pridnestrovian people deserve recognition, state recognition, the recognition of independence. We have earned it with our entire destiny and our entire life.
RT:
That is why they say that it is important to know history and tell about it because there are attempts to change history, to tell that everything was different. Let us hope that we are approaching the end of the geopolitical catastrophe as you said, which will lead, as you say, to the independence of Pridnestrovie, to the end of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Let us hope that we are approaching this moment for all of us.
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
I agree with you. You know, everyone is waiting for this, Pridnestrovie as well. And I have always said that this is a tragedy, but what can we do.
RT:
Vadim Nikolaevich Krasnoselsky, President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Thank you very much for sharing your opinion on everything that is happening, not only about your republic, about pressing issues, in general, what is happening in the world now, and how everything can be changed if only there is such a will.
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
Thank you for your interest and for your time. We need to be heard. Unfortunately, not everyone in Russia understands what is happening in Pridnestrovie, not to mention other countries. I am convinced that today's program will make many people think and become interested in what is really happening in Pridnestrovie. Thank you.
