The PMR President gave an interview to a correspondent of the TASS agency. Veniamin Demidetsky was the interlocutor of Vadim Krasnoselsky.
- Vadim Nikolayevich, what is the uniqueness of the peacekeeping operation on the Dniester?
– There was not just a conflict on the Pridnestrovian land in 1992. It was a war. It was terror. It was a crime that resulted in the death of hundreds of people and the destruction of infrastructure. The Russian servicemen arrived in Pridnestrovie by common agreement of the parties, on the basis of the same agreement on the principles of a peaceful settlement. It must be understood that the landing of Tula and Pskov paratroopers in Tiraspol, their deployment in Dubossary and Bendery was a peacekeeping operation. A specific, targeted operation aimed at ending hostilities. The peacekeeping mission began then, long-term, continuous, systematic work to ensure peace on the banks of the Dniester. The format of this operation is truly unique – this is the only example when the peacekeeping contingent is represented by the warring parties and the guarantor country. He confirmed his effectiveness –not a single shot or explosion, not a single dead for all 30 years. What other assessment is needed, what confirmation?
Nevertheless, the leadership of Moldova on international platforms proposes to replace Russian peacekeepers with international observers.
– There are really a lot of talks about changing the format, but they are empty. Why break something that works well? Who needs these experiments? Pridnestrovie is definitely not needed. Why are Russian peacekeepers included in this format? Because it was they who extended a helping hand to us 30 years ago, and not international observers who fled from the peaceful city of Bendery, which was under fire. Some new civilian missions are being proposed to us again today.
It is important to understand that the Russian peacemaker on the Dniester is not only the modern history of Pridnestrovie. The Russian soldier has been providing peace here for more than 200 years, since the time of Alexander Suvorov, who founded Tiraspol. These are our traditions, our history, which we will never give up.
- The authorities in Moldova have repeatedly declared the left bank of the Dniester as a "Russian-occupied" territory over the years. However, the agreement signed 30 years ago states that it can be denounced at the request of one of the parties. Six presidents during this time have changed in Moldova, some of whom have been harshly critical of the document signed by Snegur. However, none of them dared to sign a decree to withdraw from the agreement?
- One gets the impression that when a Moldovan official or a European politician has nothing to talk about, he recalls peacekeeping in Pridnestrovie. The current peacekeeping format for us is a guarantee of security, no matter what outside observers say, including, by the way, European parliamentarians who voted for the recognition of Pridnestrovie as a "territory occupied by Russia". The Moldovan delegation – who knows the true state of affairs – unanimously supported this decision. Unfortunately, Chisinau did not recognize the aggression against Pridnestrovie, did not repent of the murders and genocide of the Pridnestrovian people all these years. They call the country that stopped the bloodshed, ensured peace on the Dniester, "aggressor" and "occupier" now? Ridiculous! These are the realities of today unfortunately.
- They say in Chisinau that, unlike the peacekeepers, the Operational Group of Russian Troops (OGRF) is in Pridnestrovie illegally?
– We do not separate the Operational Group of Russian Troops from the peacekeepers. Its soldiers and officers serve in the Russian peacekeeping contingent on a rotational basis - while one battalion is serving in the security zone of the conflict, along with the "blue helmets" of Pridnestrovie and Moldova, other soldiers are being trained and guarding ammunition depots in Kolbasna. They change every six months. This is well known both to the representatives of Chisinau in the Joint Control Commission for the management of the trilateral peacekeeping operation, and to the Moldovan leadership. The successful peacekeeping operation on the Dniester made it possible to significantly reduce the number of peacekeepers: if in 1992 six motorized rifle battalions, a helicopter squadron and a mobile group participated from Russia, from Pridnestrovie and Moldova - three battalions each, now only five battalions provide security. The number of peacekeeping posts and checkpoints has been reduced four times - from 65 to 15.
“The situation in the region has escalated in recent month. A series of terrorist attacks were carried out on the territory of Pridnestrovie – the building of the Ministry of State Security was fired from hand grenade launchers, the antennas of the radio and television center in the village of Mayak were blown up, a number of military facilities, as well as Russian peacekeepers, were attacked using drones. In your opinion, is there a danger of renewed conflict?
- Endless discussions about the threat emanating from Pridnestrovie in relation to Ukraine, about the resumption of the armed conflict between Pridnestrovie and Moldova – all this is idle talk of provocateurs and conjectures of armchair strategists. We know what war is and we don't want it to happen again. As President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces I declare: Pridnestrovie does not harbor aggressive plans against neighboring and any other states. We can stand up for ourselves if necessary - there is no doubt about that. The military doctrine of the republic remains unchanged: we maintain the defense capability at the level necessary to protect the state from aggression.
- You stated that the traces of the intruders lead to the territory of Ukraine, it was reported that the Moldovan special services were also involved.
- As for the terrorist attacks that could not but disturb the Pridnestrovians, these are also provocations of course. Their goal is to sow panic. I am grateful to the Pridnestrovians for the fact that they did not follow the provocateurs. What is important here is the direct contact of the leadership with the population in case of danger that will learn the truth from official sources of information, from me personally.
We were forced to react – first, a red level of terrorist danger was introduced, then lowered to yellow, and so far this regime has been maintained. We will continue to act according to the situation. According to the terrorist attacks, and there were about a dozen of them, an investigation is underway, which will determine the perpetrators. According to one fact, customers and performers have already been identified, the relationship of almost all cases is clearly traced.
It's unsettled now, but the situation is under control. Our law enforcement agencies are on high alert. There is no need for military mobilization. We continue to accept refugees from Ukraine and provide them with all possible assistance. It's normal, human.
- Attempts of terrorist attacks were also noted in the area of ammunition depots near the village of Kolbasna, which are guarded by the Russian military. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu proposed to begin the disposal of obsolete ammunition in 2019. What is the position of the leadership of Pridnestrovie on this issue today?
- Direct disposal of ammunition that ended up on the territory of Pridnestrovie due to circumstances beyond our control, is the business of Russia, since the warehouses are under its jurisdiction. That is, the decision as such and the development of a mechanism for practical implementation is up to the Russian side. I am a supporter of the fact that warehouses that pose a threat to the inhabitants of Pridnestrovie must be liquidated. We must understand that when the technical instruction for the disposal of arsenals is developed, it must be provided to us without fail for review and approval. What interests me as the head of the country is ensuring the technological and environmental safety of the population. How will transportation be carried out, will the construction of specialized infrastructure be required, will a mobile recycling plant be needed? There are many questions. We will need answers before making a final decision.