Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Good afternoon, Vadim Nikolaevich.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Good afternoon.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Good afternoon.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Thank you for agreeing to join us in the studio today. Our meeting is taking place on the eve of a great holiday, Victory Day. This is a significant event for Europe, the Soviet Union, and all the people who managed to defeat fascism, of course. What does it mean for Pridnestrovie today, and perhaps for you personally?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
First and foremost, it's memory, of course, it's history, it's gratitude to our ancestors – those who liberated our land from the occupiers, liberated all of Europe from the Nazi-fascist plague, liberated all the peoples of Europe. Frankly, I can't imagine Pridnestrovie without this chapter of history; I can't imagine it being erased, or the liberators being discredited. I remember all this from my school days. We always visited the mass graves as schoolchildren in Bendery, laid flowers, and were told in the 1980s why, how, and what happened. So, this is our tradition by and large, not something borrowed from yesterday or invented today, so to speak, to suit some opportunistic agenda. There's absolutely no politicization here. We honor our ancestors, our heroic liberators. If you look (this is especially evident during "The Immortal Regiment" march), every family has its own hero, someone who survived this terrible war or fell on the front lines. People carry portraits of their loved ones. They are with us in the ranks. So this is memory. This is historical memory. We pay tribute to the soldier-liberator.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Vadim Nikolaevich, what do you think about tourists coming to Pridnestrovie for "The Immortal Regiment" march? Not a single hotel room was available last year because so many people came from abroad. By and large, we are the closest point for many countries where "The Immortal Regiment" march is taking place. People come to us to participate. Could this become a kind of date, a point of attraction for tourists, both in the future and this year?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Well, you know, not everyone shares the idea that the Red Army was an occupying force. We'll talk about that later. On the contrary, many people understand the essence of history, the essence of historical events, and who brought freedom to the peoples of Europe. Perhaps this is a tribute. It's a tribute to those people who liberated those same European nations from Nazi-fascist enslavement. That's all.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
This kind of propaganda is going on. If they said before, "We don't want history to be rewritten", now we're seeing history essentially being rewritten. That is, if you look at some polls in European countries, the role of the Red Army is already being denied through propaganda, its participation in the defeat of Nazi Germany is being denied. How do you feel about history being rewritten and certain heroes being replaced by antiheroes?
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First PRidnestrovian TV Channel:
In other words, a parallel reality is being created in which concepts are being replaced with completely opposite ones.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Well, what can I say? It's propaganda. There are always certain forces, certain people, certain resources behind propaganda. This is a certain policy. You know, it's enough to go online, go to the library, or use any other book source to understand the role of the Red Army or the role of the Allies in this war – in World War II, in the Great Patriotic War. If someone calls the Red Army an occupier, then they're probably calling the Allies occupiers as well. I want to remind you: of course, the Red Army made the primary contribution to Victory in World War II. This primary contribution refers to technical, human, and so on. This is absolutely clear and obvious. There is no propaganda here, and no attempt to diminish achievements – not in the least. The United States of America and Britain also made their contribution. It was an alliance against the Axis powers and against Nazi-fascist ideology. Therefore, if someone calls the Red Army occupiers, then they're also calling the United States and Britain occupiers. How else can they be divided? Do you understand? It's a delicate matter. Therefore, those who are mistaken, or those who impose new doctrines, don't understand the consequences. So, they take a step and find themselves in very difficult situations.
Well, let's say there's a history textbook – History of the Romanians and General History". These are textbooks for high school students in Romanian-language schools in Moldova and five schools in Pridnestrovie. There's a lot written there, too. These historians – poor historians, in my opinion – have themselves driven into a dead end. They don't know how to get out of it. Essentially, they're directly rehabilitating Nazi criminals – Antonescu and his henchmen. This is a very dangerous undertaking, indeed. We all know the story very well – how the so-called "Transnistria" governorate, whose territory encompassed modern-day Pridnestrovie, ended. The capital of this governorate was Odessa. It was a larger territory, larger than modern-day Pridnestrovie. It ended with the extermination of approximately 400000 Jewish citizens, along with many thousands of civilians living compactly there. Memorials and history confirm this. Naturally, all material and technical resources were exported to Romania, and the territory of modern-day Pridnestrovie was completely plundered.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Operation "1111."
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Yes, "1111." That's Antonescu and his henchmen. There's the Nuremberg Tribunal, its results, and they are not subject to revision. That is, those involved in rehabilitation need to carefully examine what came before, who signed this sentence, and which states are guarantors of this history's non-revision. Of course, we're not just making empty statements. We base our efforts on the positions of serious institutions. There are Holocaust studies institutes in Jerusalem, Bucharest, and Washington. They have clearly expressed their opinion – in writing – that the textbooks published by modern Moldova rehabilitate Nazi criminals. This is unacceptable. That's all.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
What do you think about the fact that the rewriting of history begins with children's textbooks? These textbooks are Moldovan in Russian. It turns out that every year tens of thousands of new adults graduate from Moldova, who were just children, who were just told stories that never happened.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Children are always being molded. What you give a child, they keep. It's the foundation for development. Rarely anyone change later their mind or the knowledge they acquired in school, on the school bench. I always ask foreign diplomats: tell me, we have five schools with Romanian as the language of instruction, but the textbooks are in Russian. Why? The school is Romanian, but why are the textbooks in Russian? It's very simple. The Moldovan leadership has essentially turned these schools into propaganda platforms unfortunately. The Russian language is used because everyone understands that Russian is the predominant language spoken here. So that these textbooks are read not only in school but also elsewhere. In other words, it's an element of propaganda. Nazi and fascist propaganda. It's very simple. It's absolutely unacceptable. Why is this being done? It's all in plain sight. So that a child will come to their parents and say, "Mom, Dad, our grandfather was an occupier. And I won't go to the Immortal Regiment, for example. They're all occupiers" after two or three years, or a year of studying using these textbooks. That's what it's all about. Somewhere, ideas are voiced, somewhere, textbooks are produced, somewhere, propaganda is conducted. These are all elements of a single scheme. It's a vast chain of events and actions aimed at distorting history, aimed at distorting the heroism of the liberating people, aimed at rehabilitating inhuman beings. They can't be called human. They are simply inhuman – those who were capable of exterminating people in the most sadistic manner: in gas chambers, burning them alive, burying them alive, carrying out mass executions. This is the entire legacy of Antonescu and his punitive forces in the territory of the so-called "Transnistria," today's Pridnestrovie. Therefore, it is unacceptable to pronounce the word "Transnistria" as such in Pridnestrovie, of course. It cannot be uttered. This word connotes death and horror, torture, hunger, and everything else associated with it.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
And how are we dealing with retraining those who come to us when they call us "Transnistria" instead of our name, Pridnestrovie?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Just an explanation. In fact, "Transnistria" is a synonym for the word "Holocaust". Holocaust studies institutions confirm this. I didn't invent this. Do you understand? Therefore, for us, "Transnistria" (and I always explain it this way) is a synonym for the word "Holocaust". It means death and horror. That's all. Everyone understands. All foreign diplomats understand and pronounce the word "Transnistria" normally. This is absolutely fine and understandable.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
When people talk to you, do they say "Transnistria"?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Of course. Otherwise, I simply explain calmly and clearly why we cannot be called "Transnistria". We cannot be called "Holocaust". That's an occupation term. It arose during the occupation of this region by the Romanian fascists. So how can we return to the past and call us an occupation term? It's an insult, an insult to the fallen, at the very least.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Do you think those currently engaged in this propaganda even understand their historical responsibility? What are the consequences of this? After all, we managed to defeat ideology in 1945, and yet it's returning again.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Well, how can I say, do they understand? Some do. The ideologists of this false trend, this distortion of history, of course, do. They use readily available material: unintelligent journalists, some bloggers, so to speak, just propagandists. They don't care. They're just paid for it, you see? They're hired hands. They're like history killers, you see? When a killer goes to kill someone, does he understand? Well, of course he does, but he doesn't care. He's been paid. These people are called history killers, killers of historical truth, its murderers. Of course they understand, but they're simply on the payroll, performing their function for material reward. Will they ever repent? Probably... Or maybe not. But for us, that's secondary. We must strictly adhere to the historical truth, build it in Pridnestrovie, show people how it really was – without any embellishments, additions, and so on. In documentary form. Which is what we are doing.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
What will be happening in Pridnestrovie on May 9th this year?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Our traditional events. Of course, honoring veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Unfortunately, there are very few of them left. Only six people participated in the Great Patriotic War – five men, one woman. The woman is Zinaida Pavlovna Kroytor. She lives in the city of Rybnitsa. She turned 103 this year. The others are also approaching 100. This is a passing generation – the Generation of Victors. They will probably have great difficulty coming to the Zemlyanka, which is understandable. Nevertheless, we always gather and honor our heroes. Of course, there will be concert programs, roundtables at various venues, flower-laying ceremonies, and an Immortal Regiment march. All of this is planned not only in Tiraspol, but throughout Pridnestrovie as a whole.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
You mentioned historical truth, and Pridnestrovie is a prime example of this. Much attention is being paid to museums, exhibitions, and displays that tell the story of various events of past years. The Museum Quarter is also being prepared to become a fully-fledged historical site, telling the story of the events that took place here. Could you please elaborate on this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Generally, Pridnestrovie is rich in history. It's not just the history of the Soviet Union or the Russian Empire. No, many peoples have lived here. And they all left a lasting mark. For example, the city of Tiraspol. By the way, dear sirs, tell me, why is Tiraspol called exactly that way – Tiraspol?
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Well, the Dniester River was called Tiras.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
And why was the Dniester River called Tyras, do you know?
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Well, the city of Tyras was at the mouth of the Dniester.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
The city of Tyras. Okay. And why was the city called Tyras back then?
So, speaking of the history of our hometown, yes, our city is named after the Dniester River. It was called Tyras. Around 600-700 BC, just when the ancient Greek traveler and philosopher Herodotus described this region, Greeks were here. The Greeks named this river Tyras, in honor of the ancient Greek god. So, historically speaking, when our city was named (this was during the reign of Catherine the Great), many Greek words were borrowed. This includes Kherson – Chersonesus, Odessa, and so on. Tiraspol is a Greek name. Tyras is the ancient Greek god of the Dniester. In fact, there were many gods in Ancient Greece: there was Poseidon, the god of the seas and oceans, there was a god of rivers and bodies of water, This was the god of this river, today's Dniester River, which was called Tyras. The city is named Tiraspol – after the ancient Greek god. This is such a history. What does this mean? That such people lived here. Cities and rivers were named after their gods. Clearly, all this history must be presented somewhere. So, it is presented here. Starting with the ancient peoples who lived here – the Proto-Slavs, the Scythians, the Sarmatians, and so on. Take Catherine Park, for example: the archaeological museum is a passageway into the Museum Quarter. This facility, known as the "Museum Quarter," houses approximately 20 halls and a large repository of artifacts, spanning from ancient times to the present day. These artifacts must be preserved and properly preserved. That's what we're doing. I believe we should be finished by September 2nd. In fact, we're already in the final stages. There are still some cosmetic details remaining in the first building, which will house an exhibition on the history of the Russian Empire, the early and Middle Ages, the MASSR, the Cossacks, a museum of religion, a museum of the peoples inhabiting Pridnestrovie, and a partial art gallery.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
You speak with such enthusiasm about our museum. Meanwhile, recent news has been breaking: museums dedicated to the Great Patriotic War are closing in Moldova. At one time, almost every school had a little corner with photographs of the heroes. Perhaps some school search teams found some items, documents, and all of this was kept in schools. And now the last, so to speak, remnants of memory of the Great Patriotic War are being erased. What do you think about this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Museums can close for both subjective and objective reasons. For example. There are used to be many exhibits in rural schools. Villages are dying out in Moldova. Schools are closing. In general, it might just be that schools are closing. Many schools have closed there, as far as I know. These exhibits are, at best, preserved by someone who takes them home. They by and large end up gathering dust somewhere. Central museums are closing. Maybe for renovations. Maybe intentionally. I don't know. I'm not ready to judge. What am I personally proposing? I propose: if there is a real problem in Moldova with the preservation of historical artifacts from the Great Patriotic War and beyond, we can ensure their storage and exhibition here in Pridnestrovie. We have all the resources for this – the museum spaces and storage facilities have been properly maintained. If the Moldovan side is willing, we are ready to accept all artifacts related to World War II into Pridnestrovie.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
One more question. You said the Museum Quarter would be fully opened by September 2nd. A lot of tourists are already coming to Pridnestrovie, especially on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in March and April. I see them standing near the museum, sticking their hands through the fence and gates, and photographing historical equipment and motorcycles. Is it possible to partially reveal this, so to speak?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I think this is an organizational matter. Now, in fact, the dugout, the pillbox, the trenches, the Great Patriotic War Museum, the Museum of the Soviet Union (which is of interest to tourists), our Hall of Remembrance for the Victims of the 1992 War against Pridnestrovie, the "Afghan" Museum, the Museum of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, and the house-museum of our fellow countryman, Professor Zelinsky, are all ready. Of course, by and large, this museum should be fully open on Saturdays, welcoming visitors. Sundays should be at least half a day, and Mondays are closed. It's very simple. That's how any museum sector works. I've also observed people taking photos. Tours need to be booked now, but they should be readily available. These are the recommendations given. I think the organizational and technical details will be resolved now, and, as has been quite rightly noted, people shouldn't stand behind a fence, but rather enter the grounds and visit the museums that are already ready.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
A film that also touches on our history is "The Pridnestrovian People: Forged Over Centuries." It's a great effort. They tried to tell the story of this region, this land, from ancient times. What, in your opinion, is Pridnestrovian identity?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
It's rightly said: the Pridnestrovian people are forged over centuries. And the film, in my opinion, turned out to be interesting, incorporating new technologies and artificial intelligence into our history. The film's consultants weren't just outsiders, but historians, teachers, and professors from the Pridnestrovian State University - people who understand the essence of the story. Anna Zakharovna Volkova, for example. Overall, a big thank you to all the creators. The film is excellent, engaging, and rich in our history, depicting the life of the Pridnestrovian people here on the banks of the Dniester. The film will focus on our Pridnestrovie. Absolutely everyone should watch it, reflect on it, and draw certain conclusions. There's a lot of debate these days about which people live where. There's nothing to argue about. The Pridnestrovian people live on the banks of the Dniester. What's their essence? What's most important about them? I've thought about this too, frankly. Territoriality, probably. A certain history, too, probably. Culture. Languages. Interethnic harmony should still be placed first and foremost. Historically, there have never been any internecine nationalist wars or religious clashes in Pridnestrovie.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Unless something comes to us from outside.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Antonescu came with "Transnistria" and began imposing the Romanian language and a titular nation here, on the banks of the Dniester. That's different; it's occupation; these are two different things. Yes, the peoples here lived in harmony. Today, 72 nationalities and ethnic groups live in PridnestrovieThe main ones are Moldovans, Russians, Ukrainians, and other peoples, making up about 30 percent each. But no one divides each other by nationality.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Or some prefer mamalyga, while others prefer dumplings.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
This is complete nonsense, really. It all stems from some kind of titularism. Yes. Which is very dangerous, actually. Since we're on the topic of titularism, I'll express my opinion. Generally speaking, is it possible to find a "true Aryan" today? There was a man like that Hitler, who was searching for a "true Aryan", trying to create one. They conducted a lot of medical experiments on captured soldiers. They were trying to achieve some kind of purity in the genetic product they called "human". That's what they called it. I didn't come up with this. Take any of you: I think you're as mixed-race as you are. Just like me. What am I getting at? Interethnic harmony. This is a very interesting point. Titularism. What is titularism? It's the exaltation of one people over others. That is, an attempt to demean all other peoples in the presence of one. In fact, titularism is the first step toward nationalism and, by and large, the road to Nazism. This is titularity. Titularity has nothing to do with love for one's neighbor. Love for one's neighbor is the foundation of faith in God. That is, titularity is actually against God. The Lord does not divide Christians by nationality. He does not. Not in the Orthodox faith, not in the Catholic faith, not in the Protestant faith. We are all Christians. And God has no nationality, do you understand? Anyone who tries to do this is a person who has no connection to God. To the church, perhaps, but certainly not to God. That's all. If you look at modern Moldova, recalling the late 1980s and early 1990s, who stood at the heart of titularity? They were all former communists, all atheists who definitely had no connection to God. That's all. Look closely at the ideologists of titularity back then, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. All were party members. All were atheists. That's all. Therefore, titularity is against God. Interethnic harmony is love for God. What is harmony? It is love for one's neighbor. This is the foundation of faith in God. Love for one's neighbor. That's all.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Vadim Nikolaevich, you touched on the topic of the schism, including religious, in the late 1980s. We are now witnessing a modern schism in Moldova. That is, we are witnessing a religious struggle, where in Moldovan politics, even debates are being waged about which Holy Fire is right and which is wrong, which is "ours" and which is "not ours". Do you think this schism will continue to widen?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Unfortunately, we are witnessing a shift in religious platforms, which is aimed at changing faith, by and large. Although faith cannot change, faith is in God. The struggle between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church, which is taking place in Bessarabia, is being waged precisely by removing churches from the influence of one and transferring them to the influence of the other. What can I say? This is truly very bad. It is very bad. How it will end, I don't know. All of this is very bad. It all started with titularity, and now the next wave is underway – expansion into the Russian Orthodox Church in the territory of modern-day Bessarabia. It's up to the people to decide. People must either agree with this (they may be largely satisfied with it – why not) or disagree (in which case it must be unequivocally opposed). I repeat: this is the people's choice. Naturally, there are specifics, nuances. If people want to pray as their priest tells them, according to certain canons, if they agree, then let them do as they please in this regard. Of course, this is all politics, this is the politicization of religion. This is all bad.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, recently we have seen relations between Moldova and Pridnestrovie deteriorating. This concerns not only issues related to religion and so on. We are experiencing very strong economic pressure. How would you assess the state of dialogue, the state of relations and the increasing pressure, perhaps?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Let's start with the fact that I would highlight the absence of a negotiation process as such as the negative aspects of our relations. It doesn't really exist. When the parties aren't talking, what good can you think of? There is no negotiation process. There is an exchange of opinions, some nuances, some statements, but that's not a negotiation process. The negotiation process ended "thanks" to the Moldovan side in 2019 – in October-November. Slovakia held the OSCE Presidency at the time. The "5+2" format met in Bratislava. We reached many agreed-upon positions regarding our relations with Moldova, but then Moldova's political representative, Mr. Shova, refused to sign the final protocol. Moldova effectively withdrew from the negotiation process – de facto, not de jure. It refused to sign. The signing was postponed for a month – a deferred signature. They tried to do the same in Bavaria. That also didn't work. Since then, by and large, there has been no negotiation process. There was the pandemic then. They took advantage of the pandemic, claiming it's impossible during a pandemic. What's impossible? Our children were studying remotely, using modern technology, the internet, social media, 50% of our people were working remotely, but can't we organize a negotiation process remotely? So it was beneficial. Then came the military actions in Ukraine, which made it impossible for this "5+2" format to work. No other platform has been created. It doesn't exist. There are no negotiations either. That's bad. Naturally, I assume, Moldova, taking advantage of the lack of negotiations, the lack of a voice for Pridnestrovie on the international stage, is seriously complicating our lives in terms of the economy, freedom of movement for citizens, and so on.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
What are we left with if there is no dialogue in the "5+2" format, and if many agreements and documents reached earlier during the negotiation process are not being implemented by the Moldovan side? What is the basis for our relations now? What remains?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
You know, not many. There are political representatives, of course. Mr. Vitaly Viktorovich Ignatyev – from Pridnestrovie, Mr. Chiveri – from Moldova. Their meetings, which do take place, are purely politicized. Other than making some absurd statements, Mr. Chiveri brings nothing to the table and is unlikely to be ready for any agreements. We want to negotiate. We are open to negotiations, open to dialogue, ready to compromise, ready to achieve results. Pridnestrovie has always demonstrated this. Knowing this, they don't allow us to do so. They shut the door in our faces. I spoke with a diplomat. He says that the train is leaving, and you have to catch it. But how can we catch it if the conductor won't let us on? We can't get on this train – the conductor won't let us on. You know, history works out this way: one train has left, another will arrive. This is normal. It's a chain of historical events. There's no need to worry about it. We are ready. Absolutely. Moldova is our neighbor. We don't hate our neighbor. Not at all. We're not stirring up any passions against Moldova here in Pridnestrovie. We call things by their proper names when it comes to our complicated historical relations. We're not sowing hatred among people. We're ready for dialogue. We're ready for normal neighborly coexistence.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
There's no dialogue right now. Meanwhile, we constantly hear statements from the Moldovan side that they're involved in the life of Pridnestrovie. They're actively discussing the creation of a fund to collect money confiscated in Pridnestrovie, supposedly to be used for Pridnestrovie. That's what they're saying. We see that, let's say, they collect customs duties, but not a single lei goes to Pridnestrovie. There is no mechanism for repaying the funds from this fund. What can you say about this fund? What does it mean, what do they want, and what will happen next?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
They've come up with another word – "convergence". They even have trouble pronouncing it. I have another word. Let's start with what this fund is made up of. Of course, it's made up of the money illegally confiscated from our entrepreneurs, that is, the Pridnestrovian people. That's one part. The other part is other sources (possibly). I don't know what they are. First of all, we're not refusing to use these funds for the development of economy of Pridnestrovie. Of course, we're not refusing. I've even suggested where these funds could be directed. For example, wastewater treatment facilities. We'll talk about that later. Our wastewater treatment facilities require major repairs, additional equipment, and technical work. That's normal. Wastewater treatment facilities throughout Pridnestrovie, starting in Bendery, are one direction where this money could be directed. The second direction is the bridge across the Dniester River near the village of Bychok. It's currently open, but the tonnage limit is 10 tons. Many entrepreneurs are asking for permission to transport cargo over 10 tons. This was discussed back when it opened in 2017. Back then, we discussed creating a joint commission, inspecting the bridge, and carrying out the necessary repairs. Not the kind of "repairs" Moldova carried out: they closed all the bridges a week before and painted the curbs before the elections, restricting movement for Pridnestrovians for a week. I'm not talking about those "repairs," but about the normal repairs that are necessary. Please, we can use the convergence fund for a good purpose – repairing the bridge over the Dniester River. The next: we spend a lot of money on correctional institutions. This is all from the Capital Investment Fund. In total, we have renovated or built 28 such institutions. This is a very noble cause. There is one problem. It exists everywhere. We are talking about people with special needs and those suffering from various mental illnesses. They are under the care of the state until they turn 18. They seem to fall out of direct state control when they turn 18. They end up with families. It's fortunate when the parents are alive and healthy, thank God. But time takes its toll. The parents also need to take care of themselves – rest, get treatment. Where can we place a child with, say, cerebral palsy? So we're proposing to create such a center at the Sukleya school (a good, well-equipped school, built in a U-shape, capable of accommodating up to 400 of these grown-up children, with a hectare of land that allows for their well-being). The convergence fund is welcome—the funds could be directed there. As for roads, we could repair roads in Pridnestrovie. But what I hear from Mr. Kiveri is this same statement: no, that won't happen, we'll send it wherever we want. Just a second. This will 100% turn into a corrupt scheme if left unchecked. I have no doubt about it. Clearly, we must control the funds. The money is ours. Otherwise, it will all turn not into a "convergence fund" but into a "common pot" – like those famous characters of the 1990s. We don't want to go back to that. Everything must be democratic, honest, and open. We're offering the facilities. Your specialists along with ours can come, assess the scope of the work required, and begin. We're ready to do so tomorrow. So, please, respected gentlemen from the right bank, from Moldova, we invite you. Please, you can invest in these facilities. Moreover, if any of the European Union countries, which have been so supportive of Moldova in this matter, want to help, we wouldn't refuse either. Please invest. If you invest, you will also oversee the project with us. No questions asked. It's all very simple and honest. Otherwise, it will be a “common fund”, made up of illegally confiscated funds.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Do Europeans know the word "common fund"?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I think I can explain what it is and why it's unacceptable in Pridnestrovie.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Vadim Nikolaevich, Moldovan politicians often talk about some kind of benefits related to this fund. They say, "There will be no more benefits, and everything will now go into the fund". What kind of benefits are these?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Well, I don't know what Moldovan politicians are talking about. It's enough to look at the theory of taxation itself: there is no double taxation anywhere in the world. There is the concept of local taxes, and they must be paid into the local budget, for example. There are state taxes. Excuse me, we don't live together. Moldova has absolutely no involvement in the lives of our citizens – unless someone comes and pays for medical treatment in Moldova. They don't pay pensions and, naturally, have no social obligations here in Pridnestrovie. We provide all of this. Of course, it's all done through taxes. We pay pensions to Pridnestrovian pensioners, of whom there are 97000. Of course, we maintain all correctional institutions, nursing homes, and boarding schools. We fully support education: schools, kindergartens. Of course, we pay the salaries of the employees who support the functioning of the state. All other expenses, too. Of course, we collect taxes. What Moldovan politicians say – they mean they allegedly didn't take additional taxes before, but will now. So, if an entrepreneur, roughly speaking, paid 20% of their income in taxes, will they now pay, roughly speaking, 40%? Another 20% to Moldova? Well, excuse me, this is complete robbery, this is lawlessness, this is banditry – you could say that. It has nothing to do with the economy.
As for benefits, it's enough to recall the DCFTA system. Those were benefits. Excuse me, back in 2019, Moldova almost completely stopped complying with the DCFTA requirements – since June 2019. By and large, the DCFTA mechanisms are not working to this day. Our companies cannot register in Moldova (those that want to do so). Our companies cannot open bank accounts and operate, let's say, under unacceptable conditions. These are called "benefits", which don't exist.
The double taxation that Moldova wants to introduce has nothing to do with benefits. We have never in our lives received any benefits from Moldova. We simply pay taxes into the Pridnestrovian treasury, and these taxes go towards the people's needs. That's all. In a nutshell. Therefore, we must call a spade a spade. We are against double taxation. We are against additional duties, fees, and everything else. All of this falls on the shoulders of entrepreneurs and the citizens of our Pridnestrovie. This is a path not only to economic strangulation, but to an economic blockade and a worsening of the situation for the Pridnestrovian people.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, given the current complex geopolitical relations in the world, including around Pridnestrovie, there are sometimes voices proposing a military solution to Moldovan-Pridnestrovian relations. How realistic do you think this is now, and what is the role of a peacemaker in this regard?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I still believe in common sense, in common sense. No matter how complicated our relations with Moldova may be, I still trust Moldovan politicians. I believe they're telling the truth and that they're against a military solution to the Pridnestrovian issue. Of course, there are a lot of nuances: Moldova's armament, its special forces are training, its participation in NATO programs. Oh well. I trust the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Grigoryevna Sandu, that she doesn't want to resolve the Pridnestrovian issue militarily. By the way, I thank them for that. Nevertheless, this is the politicians' current position, but there are also other voices pushing and provoking their political leadership towards certain scenarios. What scenarios? Let's discuss it. It's all connected to history. We have a rich history. Let's now put some historical facts together. Look, the so-called "Transnistria" governorate. Moldovan politicians and all Moldovan right-wingers – they all call our territory by their favorite word, "Transnistria," a term used for occupation. This is a projection of the occupation. What did the Nazi, Romanian occupation bring to the peoples of the Soviet Union? Bavarian beer and Bavarian sausages? No. There are documents, there is a plan. It's called Plan Ost. What did Plan Ost envision? It envisioned the deportation of the Slavic population from Poland and Eastern Europe. This applies to Belarus, Ukraine, and today's Russian Federation – up to 75-80% of those considered undesirable would be deported or exterminated. Where would they deport? The Caucasus, Siberia, and even South America. They even mentioned Brazil, for example. It doesn't matter. South America. The rest would be turned, essentially, into servants, into slaves. Speaking of history, the implementation of the "Ost" plan began, in principle, in 1941, during the occupation: 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944. Until all this filth was expelled from our territory. I want to give a real-life example. I studied at a music school in Bendery, and I had an accordion teacher, a very bright, kind person – Nadezhda Iosifovna Shpakova. She was Belarusian herself. When Belarus was occupied by the Nazi invaders, she was 14 years old. As part of the implementation of the "Ost" plan, she was taken first to Germany, and then to Austria. She was enslaved by some Austrian family in Austria. This is the implementation of the "Ost" plan in principle. Leave those necessary for service, complete Germanization of all eastern regions, the rest either total extermination or deportation. That's all. People are completely disenfranchised. Naturally, there's an artificial reduction in the birth rate, including under this "Ost" plan. Therefore, there would be no modern Europe or European Union. It's all a lie. Please read the "Ost" plan. Incidentally, it was supposed to last 30 years, that is, until 1970, in the event of the Nazi-fascist invaders' victory over the Soviet Union. Do you understand? Again, the role of the Soviet soldier in liberation and the failure of this "Ost" plan. I would very much not want, and we will, of course, resist, the implementation of an "Ost-2" or a continuation of the "Ost" plan in Pridnestrovie – the expulsion of the local population, their deportation, economic suppression, deprivation of all political rights, and so on. Do you understand? I see elements of this plan today. Pridnestrovians who hold Moldovan citizenship are not allowed to vote.
Igor Avrenev, TSV Editor-in-Chief:
Bridge repairs...
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Yes, bridge repairs. But let's remember these interesting facts. Everyone seems to pass them by, no one notices them. There are European diplomats then. I always ask them: "Where are you, gentlemen? Where is your television? Where is your media? Where is your democracy?" A week before the elections, all the bridges were closed. Traffic was partially restricted under the guise of repairs. No repairs were made. It was as if the bridges had never been repaired. The elections began – they were immediately "mined" (by some telephone terrorists), then all the polling stations were "mined", then "ballots disappeared," then the polling stations were closed. People were left, so to speak, outside the scope of their voting rights. Taking away a citizen's right to vote is a crime in fact. Especially on a mass scale. So what? Nothing. Absolutely zero reaction. This is all bad. This is all the implementation of plans that never came to fruition. This is the deprivation of political rights.
The next issue is deportation. Moldova is very sensitive to the deportation of Moldovan citizens. I am sensitive to it too. Peoples should not have been deported. This is the tragedy of the peoples of the Soviet Union. You know my attitude toward these processes. Of course, when the peoples of the Caucasus were deported, it was a crime. When the Kalmyks were deported, it was a crime. When the Ukrainians were deported, it was also a crime. But then they returned to their lands, and that was it. As for Khrushchev, of course, many criticize him, he was such a peculiar personality, but we must give him credit: he returned all the peoples to their lands of permanent residence. And what is the Moldovan leadership doing now? They are stripping citizens who hold Pridnestrovian citizenship of Moldovan citizenship and deporting people without trial or investigation. They are deporting based on some report from some detective. Well, excuse me, this is pure Bolshevism, gentlemen. You have the same Bolshevik approaches: deporting a person based on a report without a trial. You are engaging in the same kind of deportation as the Bolsheviks, which you really didn't like when you were dragging train cars across your square, showing off the whole story and, essentially, engaging in propaganda. So don't do the same. You are deporting citizens who you consider politically undesirable, citizens who live in Pridnestrovie. This is not good, it is wrong. Think about it. Come to your senses, ultimately. There is no need to repeat the "feats" of those people who were engaged in the illegal deportation of citizens and peoples. This is not good, it is wrong. We speak about this openly in Pridnestrovie. We are not hushing up this history. Do you understand? This is our history. And we are against its consequences and against deportation today. We are the victims in this regard. Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, negative rhetoric from Chisinau regarding peacekeepers in Pridnestrovie has been intensifying recently, including regarding freedom of movement and so on. We've heard statements about possible entry and exit problems for the OGRV leadership.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Spell it out – deportation.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Deportation. What is the role of peacekeepers now, at this time, given the complicated events and conditions?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
By the way, we recently conducted a survey on people's attitudes toward peacekeepers. 90% of people positively assess the role of peacekeepers on the banks of the Dniester. Why? Because there's peace, that's all. People don't need this politicization at all; they're not interested in it. What matters to them is the result. The result is peace on the banks of the Dniester. What else is there to prove? Everything. The people's positive attitude toward peacekeepers shapes, in principle, everything else. We as part of the people think the same way.
I remember 1992 very well. I remember very well those so-called civilian observers who scattered like mice in the city of Bendery at the first shot. The Pridnestrovian guards barely managed to gather them together, save their lives, and lead them out of the burning Bendery. They didn't even bother to write a report or a note, or even provide any information anywhere about the fact that a city full of civilians was being shelled. That's all. That's the result of the civilian observers. The war was stopped when Russian peacekeepers arrived. The peace remains to this day. Some say, "If only they had been taken out, everything would have been fine". I don't know. History has no subjunctive mood. I'm not sure. Naturally, peacekeepers are and remain the guarantor of peace in Pridnestrovie in this complex geopolitical situation in which we find ourselves. Naturally, they will carry out their mission in accordance with the agreement until a complete, comprehensive, and fair – I emphasize, fair – resolution of this conflict is achieved. Not according to the "Ost Plan", but precisely a fair one, you understand? What do we need to achieve that? Please, say. There's no dialogue. That presents significant challenges. We are open, I emphasize, we are open to dialogue.
Igor Avrenev, TSV Editor-in-Chief:
Vadim Nikolaevich, continuing on the topic of crime. Lately, there have been a lot of drug-related crimes. It's clear that these drugs don't come to us from Ukraine, because our border is in the state it is, as everyone knows. They come exclusively from Moldova. Our law enforcement agencies are detaining a great many couriers. Tens and hundreds of thousands of doses, destined for Pridnestrovie, are being held at our customs posts by border guards and customs officers. There was another meeting of political representatives, and, as far as I know, a man from Anenii Noi was again included on the list of so-called "political prisoners". He was detained, I think, with thirty stashes of drugs in Pridnestrovie. He's being called a political prisoner. This is the second such case. What do you think about this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
There's actually a deeper problem. I'll certainly touch on the fact that someone was called a political prisoner, but you know, it happens. All sorts of people have been called political prisoners: drug addicts and murderers. It's just the way things are.
Drugs. Drugs are a hot topic. The Moldovan leadership acknowledges the fact that Moldova is gradually being turned into a transit country for synthetic drugs. Synthetic drugs are produced in some lab. I don't know where, so I won't say. Nevertheless, it's a fact, and large seizures of drugs in Moldova confirm this. There have even been attempts to smuggle them into the European Union. Naturally, the police is also trying to combat domestic distributors. This is a fact. There was a case of a large shipment of weapons being transported through Moldova to Romania, which was also detained by border services. What I want to clarify here is that, of course, we suffer too. Not all drugs end up in the European Union. Some remain in Moldova. From Moldova, some are attempted to be smuggled into Pridnestrovie. Naturally, our border and customs posts are a barrier. This is not against freedom of movement, not at all. It's for security. This is the fight against crime, cross-border crime. This is a barrier to drug trafficking. We need to understand that. I understand there are inconveniences for citizens. There are inconveniences when you stand at the border crossing for 15-20 minutes, waiting to pass. I agree, it's unpleasant. But it's good, and when people fly on an airplane: the passenger goes through the frame, they take off their belt, shoes, watch, some chain, put their things down – they can search them. This is also unpleasant, on the one hand, but everyone agrees with this. Why? Because it's a matter of security. The same is true here. For the sake of security, you have to sacrifice your comfort a little. It's normal. People should understand this, and they do. It's their safety. So that they don't bring drugs into your home, so that they don't bring hexogen into your home, as happened during the attempted terrorist attack in 2023. They brought it secretly, across the border, hidden it so well that they couldn't find it in the driver's license cards. So what am I proposing to Moldova? Of course, we must unite to fight this evil. Of course, law enforcement agencies must combine their efforts to combat drug trafficking and identify the dealers and customers of this entire business. There is no other way. The police are ready. In fact, rank-and-file police officers, detectives, and investigators are ready to cooperate with us. I assure you. They want this cooperation. Because we have a lot to offer: we have good experience, we have good knowledge, we have good operational positions, good materials for this. They are not allowed because everything is politicized. Everything is politicized. This cooperation is excluded solely due to the politicization factor. Well, that's all. Then, of course, we will stand our ground in the fight against drug trafficking in Pridnestrovie. We are detaining dealers. 32 people were detained at the border, specifically Moldovan citizens, who attempted to smuggle narcotics across our border last year. More than ten this year. This will continue to escalate. Of course, I assume that, ultimately, there will be a fear of ending up in Pridnestrovie. We have strict laws and strict criminal liability. I certainly wish the Moldovan police professionalism in the fight against this plague. It is a plague. Many become addicted to drugs very quickly. A person simply deteriorates. They die psychologically, and then physically. Of course, the police are fighting within the limits of their capabilities. It’s not that the Moldovan police aren’t fighting. I regard them as my professional colleagues – I was once a law enforcement officer, working in the internal affairs agencies. There are many professionals in the police. Of course, their capabilities in terms of interacting with us are limited. That’s all. Therefore, we will observe the existing model for now. I tell everyone: let’s interact. Let’s say, again, intermediaries, observers, Western diplomats arrive. I say: well, look, we’ve detained a dealer. He probably got these drugs somewhere. Right? But let's do it this way: have a Moldovan police officer come, question him, obtain some material evidence, documents, copies of them, and so on, and then work on this information in Moldova. What's the problem? We're ready for that. A protocol, a document, needs to be signed. A person can't just come to us. Do you understand the nuance? But they're not ready for that. Yes, sometimes such schemes happen, where they call a person a political prisoner who illegally sold drugs in Moldova, then escaped from there, sold them here, and then, naturally, was detained and imprisoned. They call him a "political prisoner". Well, such incidents do occur. They're actually comical. They discredit themselves. What kind of political prisoner is he? Call a drug addict a political prisoner? Maybe soon they'll call a murderer, a rapist, a robber, a thief that too? That's their position. How can we argue with them? We have a different position.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, the entire world has recently experienced problems with energy supplies. We felt this last year. To what extent can Pridnestrovie feel more or less stable in terms of energy supplies today?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Yes, the situation is generally unstable. If someone had said that the Persian Gulf or a proposed war between Iran and Israel with the participation of the US would cause such a stir in Europe and the world 20 years ago, and would deal a blow to both energy and food security, well, they probably would have said, "You're just dreaming". I remember Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky spoke about this outright. His words all came true. No one listened back then. I spoke with this man (Vladimir Volfovich was a great man in fact) three times. Here's what I want to say: he wasn't a prophet, no. He was a man with a profound understanding of all historical and political processes. He could predict the present and the future with this knowledge, which is exactly what he did successfully. So, returning to the topic: any war on our planet has a negative impact of one kind or another. Naturally, in a global confrontation like the one between Iran, Israel, and the United States, we are observing and will continue to feel the consequences. We will live in the conditions that are being created, unfortunately. We cannot influence it. We must survive in these conditions.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
What are relations with Russia like at the moment in the context of our economic and energy relations?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Businesslike and honest.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
So, without details?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Well, what details are there? They are public; everyone knows about it. Let's start with the fact that 220000 Russian citizens live here in Pridnestrovie. Pridnestrovie has always had close cultural, humanitarian, and historical ties with the Russian Federation, its vast historical homeland. Speaking of Pridnestrovie, de jure, we never seceded from either the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union. Tiraspol never changed its jurisdiction. Therefore, Russia will support its citizens living in Pridnestrovie, of course. The relationship is businesslike and respectable.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
And what about tariffs for domestic consumers, for ordinary citizens? What can you say?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Of course, tariffs are a very sensitive issue. We must commend the government of Pridnestrovie, our Russian colleagues, and the management of Inter RAO UES for their understanding. Here's the gist of it. Gas prices are rising, and gas transit prices are rising – no matter how you look at it. We're paying for it. Naturally, the more expensive the fuel used to generate electricity, the more expensive the electricity produced by the Dniester State District Power Plant. They can't operate at a loss; they need to recoup their production costs. This is a serious matter requiring serious dialogue. We thank Inter RAO management and the leadership of the Russian Federation for their understanding of our situation. We're also working hard to retain our team and keep the plant running. Where does all this come down? Tariffs. Although, we've done everything we can to prevent significant tariff increases, of course. We'll see how it goes, but we're making every effort to stabilize tariffs and prevent them from increasing, so to speak. This is the responsibility of the president, the government, and all other agencies involved.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
The topic of bullying in schools was raised six months ago. It was discussed very actively. Has anything changed in the past six months?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I'll tell you this: it's a completely artificial phenomenon. Well, it definitely exists, but the level of danger is exaggerated, in my opinion. Why do I say that? I went to school myself. It's about groups, boys, girls, leadership, misunderstandings, and so on.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
So, they quarreled and made up.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
It's a completely normal topic, a normal relationship. How many times have kids fought somewhere, including me? It's normal. How could it be any other way? As if there was a different society there, but we never bullied, we never trolled teachers. That's a different danger. For us, teachers have always been sacred. Yes, we might grumble here and there, express some dissatisfaction, but there was always respect for the teacher. You see, a teacher is a colossus, a giant. I remember my teachers. I never had a bad teacher, I always say that. Every teacher taught me something, even what not to do, for example. These are lessons as well, why not? I'm not just talking about school teachers, I'm talking about life in general. You have to draw your own conclusions. Every person in their life meets people who teach them. You just have to "grasp" this correctly, draw conclusions, and learn how to act or how not to act if you don't like something. That's all.
So, back to bullying. I'll start with something else. The Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Remember, 10, 12, 13 years ago, how many cases of hazing and hazing there were? How many service members committed crimes under the psychological pressure of senior soldiers? Bullying? There are many ways to describe it.
Igor Avrenev, TSV Editor-in-Chief:
Everyone said it was invincible.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Yes, they said it, but not everyone. I didn't say anything. Those who later overcame it didn't either. But those who didn't understand, or were simply lazy and unwilling to do anything, said it was a social phenomenon, that there was nothing we could do. That's all untrue. Everything depends on the leader and the subordinates who carry out their direct orders, so to speak. What's the situation today? A working day in the armed forces, no violence, no hazing, no bullying of any kind against service members serving in the army. A full supply of food, uniforms, education at higher educational institutions, and so on. Normal combat training, normal living conditions, normal nutrition. There is no violence, no bullying in the armed forces. Now let's take a step back. So, there is no bullying in the armed forces, but there is in schools. How is that possible? That means someone is not doing their job. Who could do it? Well, maybe the school administration. Yes, such incidents did occur. We looked into this, too. Maybe the parents. Maybe the Ministry of Internal Affairs, within its purview. Maybe someone else. Therefore, we must focus everyone responsible for combating so-called bullying or violence in the school environment on results. That's what we are doing. Unfortunately, now (this is life), we've moved on to a different kind of bullying, when teachers are insulted. Such incidents occurred in Dnestrovsk, Tiraspol, and Bendery. Please remember, there was a series of so-called "minings" of schools? Respected Pridnestrovians, respected young generation. Our youth are brilliant, good, and creative. We need to channel our creativity in a different direction. That's the first thing. Secondly, the internet remembers everything. We will solve every crime and offense related to the internet. You can't hide behind your computer screen. As of today, all these so-called miners have already been identified. Criminal cases have been opened. Anyone who has reached the age of 16 is already facing criminal charges – we're talking about Kamenka, Bendery, Tiraspol. The faces have been identified, you see? There will be trouble for these people. They probably won't go to jail – I can't speak for the court. But Article 205 of the Criminal Code – knowingly false report of an act of terrorism – is in effect, and there's a 100% chance that one or another child will face some kind of legal consequences, unfortunately.
Regarding bullying, it's the same thing. A child has been identified as a violator at School No. 9, for example, right now—I was informed about this through the Ministry of Internal Affairs. But he's a minor, so he's not subject to any liability; his mother will be held responsible. Nevertheless, the court will decide the appropriate penalties and confiscate all these electronic devices: laptops, phones, and so on. You understand? That's it. And I'll say it again: no matter how creative they are, we also have very good, creative detectives. They'll find everyone. So stop messing around. Use your skills and knowledge, you have very good, excellent ones for good ends. Don't take advantage of this opportunity to provoke legal action against you that will have negative legal consequences. Of course, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and state security are committed to identifying those who engage in so-called bullying, now against teachers. We will protect teachers in Pridnestrovie. Have no doubt about it. Of course, we will use exclusively legal methods in this regard.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, one of the pressing issues is the functioning of our industry. How sustainable is this work today? What problems are there?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I would probably highlight not only industry, but economic stability, let's say. I spoke back in 2017 about how Pridnestrovie should focus on domestic production. So that we can create added value through our own production here in Pridnestrovie. This applies to agriculture, industry, including the food industry, all manufacturing, labor, and services. What's the biggest benefit? First, it's the capitalization and strengthening of the Pridnestrovian ruble, that is, the exchange rate. The second big benefit is jobs. The third big benefit is additional taxes. For example, a major area is the Capital Investment Fund. Much could be said about it. It's all visually evident – what Pridnestrovie looks like. This is all the result of the work of the Capital Investment Fund, the work, of course, of the heads of administrations, the relevant ministers, and all the workers. The Capital Investment Fund has allowed us to create several thousand jobs, generate additional taxes for the Pridnestrovian budget, and, undoubtedly, capitalize on the ruble, strengthening it, preserving an entire industry. As for agriculture, there's still room for improvement. However, we have invested in the irrigation of our lands. We currently have approximately 40000 hectares under irrigation. This is approximately 17% of public land. This is a good standard in principle. 62000 hectares of Pridnestrovie were under irrigation under the Soviet Union. Taking into consideration the technological advances and the intensity of our current efforts, we can say that we have reached the level of production we had under Soviet rule in terms of irrigation. There is still room for improvement. In principle, this figure 60 thousand hectares should serve as a benchmark, so to speak. This is also production. Why? Because what is under the "drop"? Vegetables, stone fruits, orchards, shrubs. This is also additional production. Dairy, meat. Which enterprises can be singled out? Of course, the Meat Processing Plant in Bendery. Great job. 500 types of products. They have occupied their niche, their market, and are engaged in production. They don’t just buy and make, but produce and make. This is additional capitalization and additional added value. Fialtagro is a large dairy plant and meat processing plant. The same thing. They occupied their niche and thereby strengthened the ruble. The Sheriff company has created about 40 additional production facilities. We can’t stop there. We need to grow further and move on. I could, in principle, name many more. Hall Park and other enterprises. I won’t go into that now. Everyone knows perfectly well, and I know everyone too. A big thank to everyone involved in domestic production. Therefore, in these extremely difficult conditions, we must focus on domestic investment. Banks should be actively involved in it. The banking sector, I mean. Not sit on money; money should work and make money. We don't have many other options. Naturally, what are we talking about? Food security. That is, we must produce as much as possible of what we can feed our population. Grain, cereals, are produced in Pridnestrovie. The Sheriff Company is doing well, a large company in terms of an agricultural holding. Well, other producers are not lagging behind in this regard. We are provided with grain. This is a very big plus. Look at the prices of diesel fuel. I just look at the farmers, and I feel sorry for them, because they are incurring serious losses. This will later increase the cost of production. What can we do? The crises have also affected our grain, so to speak. Not directly, then indirectly, but there are no options. We must focus on domestic production. I'm urging the government, the Supreme Council, and the banking sector to contribute to this as much as possible. We need to focus on production, we need to focus on construction, we need to generate revenue through our economy, capitalizing on it, strengthening the ruble, and, naturally, increasing the tax base and creating additional jobs, even in these difficult times.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Additional problems have arisen for farmers recently. Not only the cost of fuel, but also the import of chemicals for processing.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I generally advise you to invite the Government Chairman Alexander Nikolayevich Rosenberg here. He's a man immersed in agriculture. He's personally, so to speak, "from the ground up", having managed this sector in various organizations. And he'll give you a full breakdown of the agricultural sector. It will be very interesting. Therefore, I recommend it.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Vadim Nikolayevich, your idea of restoring oak groves in Pridnestrovie? It would seem that these are difficult times. The Strait of Hormuz is blocked and everyone is worried about it, everyone reads about what's happening there every day. But Pridnestrovie at the same time is literally continuing to restore oak groves these days. They say the results will be visible in 20-30 years. So why are we doing such things now, given the global challenges we're facing?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Well, it's not just oak groves. We have other traditional green spaces as well. Linden, maple, ash, conifers, pine, and spruce. We don't need exotic ones; they don't survive in our conditions. Even birch requires constant watering. If left untreated, it dries out, even when it's a large tree. Oaks are our traditional trees, thriving in both drought and heavy rainfall. It thrives very well. Moreover, oak is the symbol of Tiraspol. The old coat of arms of Tiraspol featured oak leaves. It's our tree. This is a tree of strength, a tree of power. Therefore, of course, the State Service for Environmental Control and Protection has been tasked with increasing oak groves. The fact that they will grow in 20-30 years is good. We're looking to the future. The Pridnestrovian people don't live for 20-30 years. They will live much longer. Do you understand? And these oak trees, when they are 300 years old, I am sure they will witness the flourishing of the Pridnestrovian people. That's all. There was even a story in the museum quarter. My wife, daughter, and I, just walking in the forest, sometimes collect acorns. We plant the acorns. Then, three years later, an oak tree grows. More or less, these are like oak teenagers. We planted four Oaks in Catherine Park. In total, we planted about 50 oak trees this year. We planted them under our fence. They grew. We earthed them up, nurtured them, and donated them – not only to Catherine Park. We distributed them throughout Pridnestrovie. They will grow on our fertile Pridnestrovian land. We need to lay the foundations for the future now, and in this direction as well.
Ecology is an interesting topic, and it's worth touching on a bit. We've somehow drifted off into politics in our conversation and forgotten about ecology. We started talking about wastewater treatment plants. I brought them up for a reason. This is a political issue, unfortunately, and a politicized one, but it shouldn't be political. Ecology shouldn't be political, you understand? Ecology is a person's right to life. An isolated case is a tragedy. When there are a certain number of them, it's simply horrific. Children are with cancer. Here's the question: why is this even possible? For an adult, it's clear: Chernobyl, the accumulation of radionuclides, ecology, stress. But what about a child? No stress. Ecology. Only ecology. A one-year-old child has cancer. Ecology. Water. One of the main factors. I've already officially stated this. Vitaly Viktorovich Ignatiev has officially sent all the materials and all the data from our laboratory to all the intermediaries and observers of the "5+2" format. We're building fences near the Byk River, which flows past Chisinau through Moldova and into the Dniester River. Other rivers there, upstream along the Dniester. What do the results of the research we've been conducting for almost three years show? Natalia Vasilievna Beril is in charge of this. The Sanitary and Epidemiological Station is collecting water samples. The pollutant levels are 240 times higher for some items. For others, 50, 20, 30 times higher. The maximum is 240 times higher. The situation is only getting worse year after year. Why is this happening? Well, the reason is clear. The wastewater treatment facilities in Moldova are worn out. They were built during Soviet times. The drainage system is broken. Where does all the untreated water end up? Straight into the Byk River and the Dniester River. There are a lot of vehicles, and all the stormwater ultimately flows directly into the Dniester. These are heavy metals, benzenes. This is very dangerous. Sewage is one unpleasant thing, but not fatal, and it's quite another thing when heavy metals end up in the Dniester River. Yes, it won't kill the fish, by the way, but they accumulate this toxic element and where does it end up? In the human body. The human body suffers greatly. In fact, humans are a very fragile biological shell. An ant is much stronger than a human in terms of its biological defenses. Humans simply can't overcome radiation. They can't overcome radionuclides either. They can't overcome heavy metals either. This is a problem. We say to all the mediators, participants, and the OSCE mission: gentlemen, don't brush this problem aside. This is the problem, let's solve it. What am I proposing? We propose joining forces to fight for our environment, for the cleanliness of the Dniester River. Especially since Pridnestrovie, Moldova, and Ukraine all use water from the Dniester River.
We'll conduct independent research. Perhaps they don't trust ours? No problem. Give us your own lab. I've been talking about this for two years now. Give us your own lab. Do the research. Draw conclusions. Draw inferences. Map out our course of action then, so to speak. Zero reactions. The topic evades discussion. How can this be? You have common sense. You drink this water. You'll experience negative consequences, reflected in your children and grandchildren then. What are you doing? This is a real problem for us. But we can't fight and resist it alone. Therefore, I propose that the same funds from this so-called fund, which hasn't yet turned into a "common fund", be used specifically for the environmental self-sufficiency and environmental safety of the Dniester River, you understand? Repairing those same treatment facilities, including that. It's not just about wastewater treatment plants, ultimately. We need to start cleaning up internally, in the cities and districts that then dump this waste into the small rivers that flow into the Dniester. That's all. But then again, what? Total politicization, an absolute reluctance to engage with us. Well, I don't know. This all ultimately leads to a dead end.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
The European diplomats with whom you communicate on this topic, how are they reacting?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Well, you know, they're listening, taking notes, and probably reporting somewhere. I'll be honest, I haven't managed to break through yet. Some critical mass probably needs to accumulate and somehow spill out somewhere literally or figuratively. But so far, I haven't seen any results. Everyone's gasping and groaning, sympathizing in some places, watching with trust in some places, with distrust in others, but I haven't seen any results yet.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, how will you personally celebrate May 9, Victory Day?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Traditionally. Firstly, as an official, I'm probably not the last participant in all the events. Why not the last? Because the first participants are veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Of course, I'll be participating in all the events: laying flowers, raising the Victory Banner, and participating in the Dugout. Of course, with my entire extended family: my grandchildren, my daughters, my son and daughter-in-law, and my wife, we'll be participating in the Immortal Regiment march. It's traditional. I'll be carrying portraits – portraits of my grandfather and my father.
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
This is memory, this is duty, this is history.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
This is the truth. There's no need to be ashamed of the truth; we should truly be proud of the truth. Especially such a heroic truth, which, in principle, was achieved thanks to our ancestors, the Generation of Victors. Glory to them!
Dmitry Matveyev, Editor-in-Chief of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, thank you very much for the interesting conversation.
Igor Avrenev, Editor-in-Chief of TSV:
Thank you.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Thank you.