Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Good afternoon, distinguished journalists, channel heads, and distinguished colleagues. Traditionally, I am holding a press conference on the eve of Republic Day. Please, feel free to ask your questions. We won't drag on, the floor is yours, please.
Dmitry Matveyev, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, there was considerable tension surrounding the negotiation process in 2026. What is needed for dialogue to resume at the international level, and what conditions might be necessary for this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Yes, Dmitry, thank you. You know how I characterize the situation? It is not the tension in the negotiation process. There is tension, but there is no negotiation process. Do you understand me? But everything else, all the tension, is connected to the lack of negotiation process. There is a clear cause-and-effect relationship. Not a single problem can be resolved without a negotiation process; it is impossible to discuss it and reach a mutual understanding. Let me remind you, you've heard this many times, that this is the reason for the absence of a negotiation process as such in fact. Moldova deliberately, intentionally disrupted the "5+2" format in 2019. This was in the fall, during the autumn sessions in Bratislava and Bavaria. Moldova refused to sign the final document on the agreements reached. What agreements? The issues are on our agenda. That's it. After that the format never met by and large. Of course, there are certain objective circumstances now, the military actions in Ukraine, and the parties are unable to sit down at the same negotiating table. Let me remind you, this was done in 2019. There was 2020, 2021, and early 2022. Naturally, they carried out their plan to the end, they prevented the "5+2" format from meeting. They've excluded this internationally recognized platform from the agenda and, naturally, excluded the negotiation process itself in other words. That's all. That's where all the problems come from. We can't find consensus; we can't agree on completely transparent, understandable issues. There's no platform. There's an attempt at substitution: the so-called "1+1" format, as they call it, is made up of political representatives. Comments are unnecessary here: the political representatives can't agree on anything, due to the Moldovan side's fault. Therefore, today we can say that there are no negotiations at all between Moldova and Pridnestrovie. There's no negotiation process. This is bad. Why? Because everything else is a consequence of the absence, the absence of a negotiation process, I repeat. We need to come to some common sense, to understand that only negotiations, only conversation, only dialogue are the way out of the current situation. Otherwise, there will be problems in the future. That's basically it.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
Vadim Nikolaevich, an outrageous incident occurred this week. Double taxation has been imposed on Pridnestrovie. The mechanism has been defined: all goods entering Pridnestrovie will be subject to VAT. Essentially, this is double, if not triple, taxation. Currently, starting September 1st, this applies to a small group of goods, but double taxation will apply to all goods entering Pridnestrovie then at regular intervals. Is this a blockade? Is this some kind of natural process? What do you think about this? Why isn't this called double taxation in Moldova?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
You know, they don't call the 1992 war against Pridnestrovie a war in Moldova. Naturally, they avoid, so to speak, defining the legal consequences in every possible way. Killing people isn't a problem for them, by and large. As for the decision on VAT and excise taxes, this isn't just double taxation, it's triple taxation, because in addition to VAT, there's also an excise tax on a number of items and product groups. This is a treacherous decision. What's surprising is that there was a working group, naturally, our specialists were there and spoke about the problems that would arise, proposing a certain scenario for working on these issues. But the Moldovan government acted in this way. This is a unilateral move, which will lead to very negative consequences in other words, I'm sure. Moldova is trying, figuratively speaking, to set its neighbor's house on fire. They naively believe that this fire won't spread to them. It will spread. I can say that for sure. There are no examples in history where your neighbor is doing poorly, but you're doing well. Everyone will be doing poorly. Moldova is taking this step deliberately. How Moldova interprets this regulation is their problem. Let me remind you that the entire burden of providing for the citizens of Pridnestrovie falls solely on the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. I recently read a speech by the new Moldovan Prime Minister, Mr. Tofan. He claimed that Moldova allegedly spends some money on the residents of Pridnestrovie on healthcare and other issues. Even those taxes don't cover the costs. I would like to appeal to Mr. Tofan amd to urge him to verify the information he's being fed and not spout nonsense. It's all absurd. I'll explain why. Our citizens who hold Moldovan citizenship access the Moldovan healthcare system and receive various assistance. This assistance is not systemic, but one-time. That's all. Regarding systemic assistance, I want to clarify what systemic assistance is. For example, between two thousand and two and a half thousand hospital beds are occupied daily in the healthcare system in Pridnestrovie. Do you understand? That's systemic assistance. Who pays for it? Pridnestrovie does. Certainly, it is not Moldova. Two and a half thousand beds – that's the provision of medical care, plus the support personnel and the operation of the entire healthcare system. Who pays for it, Mr. Tofan? Are you? No, absolutely not you. We pay for it. Moreover, the republic's social protection system includes 15 correctional institutions for children under 17, and minors of one category or another. These correctional institutions educate and house more than fifteen hundred children. Who pays for them? Are you paying for them? No, we do. In addition, the republic has nine social welfare facilities for adults. These are nursing homes, mental hospitals, and so on. Who maintains them, dear Prime Minister? We do. This means upkeep, expenses, and staff work. This is a burden on the Pridnestrovian budget. These are our social obligations. I'm not even talking about the renovations we've carried out on all these institutions in recent years. Moldova has never given us a penny for these facilities. I know theirs are in disrepair, and we renovated ours, but at our own expense. We have more than 150 kindergartens, with over 15.000 children. There is about the same number of schools, with 41.000 children receiving an education. Who maintains this? We maintain it all. There is also secondary vocational education, with over 4.000 children studying. There is higher education – our university, with 10.000 students. This is all on our shoulders. Not to mention the pensions we pay our Pridnestrovian citizens – 97.000 citizens receive pensions of various types. This is all on our shoulders. You shamelessly and treacherously steal money from us. You steal from entrepreneurs, and naturally, it leaves our budget. To date, $32 million has been siphoned off our budget this way. As I understand it, the situation will only get worse. I don't understand: should we appeal to conscience, to common sense? I don't know what. What's left when such decisions are made? This is a treacherous decision, and we will resist and counteract the negative consequences of these decisions in every possible way, of course. That's the situation.
Violetta Ganina, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Gas supplies are probably an issue of interest to all of Pridnestrovie, because winter is coming, and people want to know whether there will be supply problems this year as well. What is Pridnestrovie doing now to prepare for this situation? Time has shown that we were prepared for even the most negative scenarios and coped as best we could under the current circumstances. What's next? What can we expect this winter?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
The Pridnestrovian government and the President are doing everything necessary to ensure stable gas supplies. This is the most important thing. We are working with our Russian colleagues; we are in constant contact: both by phone and in person, with meetings also being held with our specialists. Therefore, it is impossible to say today that there will be no gas. We predict the availability of gas in Pridnestrovie.
The situation around the perimeter is generally unstable. We must consider Plan B, Plan C, and so on. Of course, we must think about this, and we are constantly thinking about it. The government is working, and we are constantly discussing this. This includes the installation of alternative power sources – primarily solid fuel boilers. In any case, even if such a situation suddenly arises, we will resort to Plan B. We're converting all correctional institutions, all orphanages, all nursing homes, many kindergartens, some schools, prisons, and healthcare facilities to alternative power sources. We have it. The most vulnerable social groups so to speak will definitely not be left without heat. We're working to ensure we have a supply of coal, firewood, diesel fuel, and so on, of course. So that we don't leave those who are directly vulnerable, without protection, so to speak. As experience has shown, we have overcome the dangerous period that began on January 1, 2025 with difficulty, and with tension, of course. Regarding gas, work is underway, it's quite extensive, and there are many other issues that arise, but they are being resolved.
Veniamin Demidetsky, TASS:
Following up on the gas question, please tell us what supplies are currently sufficient for, and is it possible to increase them? What is needed for this? Are these interruptions in financial transfers causing the supply disruptions?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Yes, Veniamin, these are all complex issues. These are purely technical, and they are being resolved, sometimes manually. This applies to money transfers. There are no such problems today. If Moldova was speculating on this, then those problems no longer exist. As for the other technical issues, they are all being addressed, I repeat. They are all being resolved today in principle. Therefore, it's not worth talking about any pressing problems at the moment.
Irina Levitskaya, TSV:
Vadim Nikolaevich, I'd like to return to the topic of triple taxation. When making decisions, Moldova explicitly stated that all funds collected from Pridnestrovie would go to the Moldovan budget. They haven't hidden this; they even named the amount – they plan to collect about 3 billion lei from Pridnestrovie in the first stage. There is a significant sum. Is there currently any discussion about a mechanism for returning this money to Pridnestrovie? Perhaps the Moldovan side has made some proposals?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Well, it depends... Proposals have been made somewhere, but they're simply deception. There is a political representative talks about some Convergence Fund on the one hand, while a Moldovan official says outright that the funds are going to the budget and have already been spent on the other. That's deception. You see. Talking about Moldova intending to return the money is pointless. Moldova hasn't invested a single penny in Pridnestrovie and has never provided any assistance in the 36 years of our state's existence, I repeat, and it never will. They are pursuing a policy hostile to Pridnestrovie, unfortunately. That's just the way it is. Therefore, talking about some funds is pointless. It's just idle reports for now. When there are proposals, then we'll discuss it. There aren't any.
Yulia Gorlova, Sputnik:
Which sectors of the Pridnestrovian economy will be hit hardest by the new taxes, and what is the monetary scale of the problem? Are there any ways to offset this loss?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
You know, when it comes to the economy, we need to look at foreign trade figures – exports, imports, and industrial potential. If we take industrial potential, then we see growth of 20% compared to 2025 figures, for example. 2025 was a disastrous year. We all remember the gas problem naturally, industry declined, significantly. By 2025, we had 20% growth, but we've seen a 34% decline by 2024. Therefore, we can speak cautiously, with cautious optimism, about industrial growth, but it's at risk. We have enough gas for medium-sized, say, non-heavy industry today in principle, to add to the question about what the gas is sufficient for. Occasionally, we supply gas to the Moldovan Metallurgical Plant, and only at night, to avoid straining the grid. These are the conditions under which we operate. What is needed to stabilize the system and, so to speak, further growth? In our current circumstances, we'll likely be talking not about growth or growth prospects, but about the prospects for stability in the industry of Pridnestrovie. This requires government action, individual work with each enterprise, and the state's current level of assistance will also be provided, perhaps in the form of tax breaks and so on, of course. It's a complex set of measures. This requires a government, a president to think about how to stabilize. Naturally, we must preserve our teams and the industrial potential that exists today. That's clear.
Alla Ivanchenko, News of Pridnestrovie News Agency:
Vadim Nikolaevich, the Promo-LEX Moldovan association has demanded that our government release so-called political prisoners convicted by our courts for very specific crimes. How would you comment on this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
No, Alla Kharlampievna, that's not quite right. This so-called human rights organization Promo-LEX has demanded the release of all prisoners in Pridnestrovie. There are a thousand people there. Currently, we have just over a thousand people, 1050 in prison for various crimes. Promo-LEX is demanding their release.
We don't have political prisoners. I'll explain now what a "political prisoner" is and where they actually exist. They exist in Moldova. They don't exist in Pridnestrovie. So, let's start with Promo-LEX. Promo-LEX demanded the release of all prisoners. They consider they are being held here illegally. I don't know what this is due to: stupidity, a lack of awareness of the situation, an attempt to play into the hands of organized crime, and so on. After all, there are 150 murderers (some of whom have committed the murder of two or more people) among the thousand prisoners. I want to identify some categories. These are repeat offenders of various types, robbers, burglars, rapists, drug dealers. We basically have no one left in prison for any other offenses.
I'd like to remind you that we conducted an analysis of the prison population, those held in Pridnestrovian prisons in 2017, after I took office as President, during my first term. There were 3600 people convicted and serving various sentences for various crimes that time. We came to the conclusion that this was too many, and that people needed to be given a chance to reform in freedom. Therefore, we widely used parole and amnesties, passed by the Supreme Council. The President has pardoned and continues to pardon those currently incarcerated. As a result, there are 1050 people as of January 1, 2026. That's a significant figure, you see? We have far fewer people in prison than in Moldova today, if you take the percentage of the population per thousand people. That's a significant figure. Perhaps we should evaluate the common sense of those proposing this to demand that murderers be released. How can one comment on this? Can serious, responsible people make such statements? They probably don't care that these people might commit another murder in Pridnestrovie. They never care about the residents of Pridnestrovie. They don't care. They might come knocking on your doors, your apartments, your relatives' doors. Therefore, of course, we won't allow this.
Regarding so-called political prisoners, Moldova and Western diplomats are very fond of these words – "political prisoners". Let's evaluate and define who a political prisoner is. I can clarify: either someone convicted of political offenses, and we don't have such articles, essentially. Or a politician can be prosecuted under another article – for tax evasion, for example, or other financial crimes. Then we can formally say that a politician has been restricted in his freedom for another crime; he is a political prisoner. Who is a politician? Someone who aspires to power. They are deprived of their freedom. Name me a single person in Pridnestrovie who aspires to power and is deprived of their freedom? There aren't any. But there are in Moldova, there are dozens of such people. The entire opposition is either on the run or in prison, you understand? The active opposition. These are Gagauz officials and others. These are political prisoners. I don't see any line of people wanting to free these political prisoners in Moldova. They don't talk about them; they're shy. When they do, it's always in a negative light. They're political prisoners. We don't have such prisoners. We have murderers, rapists, robbers, thieves, extremists. Of course, we have them too. As I've already said: it's unacceptable to engage in extremist activity in Pridnestrovie. It's unacceptable to sow ethnic hatred in Pridnestrovie. It's unacceptable to call for the murder of people based on their ethnicity in Pridnestrovie. Those who perpetrate such hatred are first warned several times, and only then are they held accountable under the law. It will continue to be this way. There's no other way. There are no political prisoners in Pridnestrovie. Full stop.
Irina Davydenko, TSV:
You said in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper that 60 thousand residents of Pridnestrovie want to obtain Russian citizenship under the new decree of the RF President. How is the issue of the amount of the consular fee decided? Because you also said that it would be resolved in the interests of the people. Is there any information available at the moment?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Probably, more than 60 thousand people have already signed up to receive Russian citizenship. I see Moldova’s speculations again. This is a very sensitive topic for them. They say the numbers are inflated. The numbers are not inflated. I officially declare this to everyone. Both those present and everyone who hears me. More than 60 thousand citizens signed up for an appointment. Even the registration has been suspended, because there is a large volume of applications that are received by the consular services department to obtain Russian citizenship. Do you understand? There will be more of them. Moreover, many citizens of Moldova are trying to somehow get into this topic, under this decree, to obtain Russian citizenship under its action - which is impossible without Pridnestrovian citizenship, without living at the time of the adoption of the decree of the President of Russia in the territory of Pridnestrovie. The work is being done. Of course, there are a lot of difficulties. We saw certain actions at the airport in Moldova, where Russian diplomatic couriers were detained without any reason. This was already a scandal between Moldova and Russia. All these actions make it difficult to accept applications and prepare documents. They make it difficult. Nevertheless, work is going on.
As for the amounts. I said it and I don’t go back on my words. I am confident, and work is being carried out, that the issue of payment of duties will be returned to the previous figures. Therefore, I ask the people of Pridnestrovie not to worry: everything will be fine. Vitaly Viktorovich Ignatiev reported that the first 40 passports under this decree have already been received. The mechanism started working.
Violetta Ganina, First Pridnestrovian TV channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, you said that diplomatic couriers were detained at the airport. Citizens of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic with any citizenship are regularly detained at the airport in Moldova. First of all, those who have Russian citizenship come under pressure. They detain families, small children, don’t let them through, arrange interrogations, call it a “conversation”, take away documents, take away phones, even violate their own laws, detaining them for 8-9 hours when the 2-3 hours required by their laws. They don't explain what's happening. Sometimes they openly say, “You haven’t broken the law, but we won’t let you into the country”. We encounter this when we cross the border; our right to freedom of movement is violated regularly. Vadim Nikolaevich, how can one evaluate such actions of Moldova, the security forces of Moldova, given that they constantly say that they are adherents of international law and respect for human rights? At the same time, the rights of a Pridnestrovian citizen are violated every time.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
There are places in Chisinau where the concept of human rights is completely absent. The airport is one of these places. It's a "free port zone" for human rights, meaning it's free from such obligations. That's how you could describe the Chisinau airport. People are detained, people are deported, including from Moldovan territory. How can one evaluate this? How can one evaluate such actions? Very negatively. There's a good saying: if you bend a stick too much, it turns into a boomerang, and sooner or later it will hit you. That's about it.
Moldova loves to discuss the repressions of the Soviet era. They put on display a train car that deported Moldovan citizens from the territory somewhere to Siberia, the Urals. You know, I take this very seriously. I also completely objectively consider that the deportation of Soviet citizens from the Caucasus, from Russia, Ukraine, and the Moldavian SSR was a crime against humanity. Definitely. Of course. I'm deeply convinced that it shouldn't have been done. Although there were different categories of citizens, including those who had served the Nazis and fascists, of course. But still, deporting families en masse was wrong. Those implicated in crimes against the people should have been held accountable, that's a different matter. But deporting the peoples of Crimea and the Caucasus was absolutely unacceptable. That's already been assessed. That same Soviet government under Khrushchev, returned all the peoples to their rightful place. All the Moldovans who had been deported came here, the Ukrainians went to Ukraine, the Kalmyks came home, thank God, and the peoples of the Caucasus returned, and the peoples of Crimea returned. The Soviet government corrected its mistake, repented of it, so to speak. What is Moldova doing? Deportations are also taking place today in Moldova. That is, by and large, although they are against the Bolsheviks, they are using Bolshevik methods. You can call yourself whatever you want: liberal, democrat. If you use such methods, then you're the same as they were in the 1920s and 1930s, and you bear the cross of those same crimes, that same violence. This applies to the airport and all other actions. What human rights, what international law? There are none today. This needs to be discussed, of course. It's a disaster. Unfortunately, this is the situation we find ourselves in.
Alexander Karasev, the Pridnestrovie newspaper:
Vadim Nikolaevich, Moldova is a neutral state according to its constitution, but we've been hearing more and more often about parades, new weapons, specialists arriving, and training the army lately. The leadership of the Moldovan Ministry of Defense and the country say they have no intention of attacking anyone. I wonder: who are they defending themselves against? Not Romania, not Ukraine. So, from Pridnestrovie? Is this supposed to be harassing us? Or how should we understand this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Generally speaking, the issue of weapons must be constantly monitored. It is constantly monitored. There's nothing wrong with holding a parade. They held it, and it was done. Some vehicles rode past, personnel were on display, and some weapons were on display. We need to carefully monitor what kind of weapons Moldova is purchasing, offensive or defensive. If they're buying air defense systems ok, they're not offensive, but, let's say, designed to control airspace. That's basically their right. They can do it. There are no questions about that. Our intelligence services closely monitor the weapons arriving in Moldova. Of course, there were certain examples, for example, howitzer weapons, which, I consider, were supplied by Israel or transferred by Israel to Moldova. Yes, they are offensive in nature. This interested us, of course. The quantity of ammunition for this type of howitzer weapons. Of course, any state can arm itself including us, for example. I am still convinced that Moldova is not inclined to resolve issues militarily, despite Moldova's armament, despite all the exercises that are being conducted (personnel must also train). I still think common sense is present. Today, such scenarios specifically, the use of military force against Pridnestrovie are ruled out and unacceptable in my view. We will observe and respond accordingly. I will say this: a war here, God forbid, on the banks of the Dniester, would lead to irreversible consequences for Moldova, among other things. Of course, this cannot be allowed. War is the worst thing in general, you understand. Why do I constantly call for a return to negotiations? Because any negotiations eliminate tension and ultimately rule out war. Without negotiations, there is a high risk of some kind of situation that will lead to some kind of clashes or military action. Therefore, we must return to the negotiating table, of course. If you don't like the "5+2" format, think about something else. No problem. Consult with all the mediators about what to call it. No one is against it. A platform is needed for negotiations. Let's look at the international agenda. As the RF President said, intelligence agencies cooperate even in the most difficult times. We're talking about American intelligence agencies, Russian intelligence agencies. This is right, because nuclear powers must be in constant contact. No matter how tense the situation in the world, there must be contact in order to prevent a more difficult situation. The same is true for us, but we have no contacts. There are no official contacts between internal affairs agencies. There are no contacts among the security agencies: the Ministry of Defense, the State Security Service. They don't exist, do you understand? This is all bad. I have no contacts with the leaders of the Moldovan state. There is no direct contact. This is also bad. There is no "5+2" format platform. This is also bad. All this can lead to certain negative scenarios, of course. This must be ruled out. Therefore, I still hope that there is common sense and an understanding that war is the worst-case scenario that cannot be allowed.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
In your previous speeches and interviews, you have repeatedly stated that Maia Grigorievna Sandu is against war. Have you changed your mind now?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I still believe that Moldovan President Maia Grigorievna Sandu is not inclined toward violence and is not inclined to unleash any kind of military action between Moldova and Pridnestrovie. I believe that the Moldovan President speaks sincerely about peace and does not want to allow escalation, tension, or the use of force against Pridnestrovie. I would like to appeal to the Moldovan President, Maia Grigorievna Sandu, to pay more attention to other relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova, beyond issues of war and peace. These are environmental issues, economic issues, exorbitant taxes, issues of law enforcement cooperation, and so on. These are the issues that are on the agenda. I don't know whether the President of Moldova is working on these issues or not. I'm asking you to pay attention to these issues. It probably won't make things worse, on the contrary, it will only make things better.
Viktor Berezhnii, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Moldova regularly calls for the withdrawal of peacekeepers from the Security Zone, allegedly because they are there illegally, and for the current peacekeeping operation to be replaced with some kind of international mission. How would you comment on this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Let's start with how the peacekeepers appeared here. The peacekeepers appeared after Moldova launched a treacherous attack on Pridnestrovie – specifically, on the city of Bendery. This was on June 19, 1992. It's important to know and always remember that on June 18, the Moldovan parliament adopted a resolution calling for a peaceful resolution and the non-use of force against Pridnestrovie. This was a direct deception, a treacherous deception, in fact, because the columns were already in place and ready to enter Bendery by and large, as they did the following day. The Pridnestrovians guard forces manning the checkpoints were withdrawn. The city was left open and defenseless. That's the story we have. Who gave the order to use force? I don't know what rank they have there, but it was probably the President who had to do it. There was the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Internal Affairs, whose personnel took a direct and active part in the murder of Bendery residents. Who were the international observers and mediators in Bendery? Was there some kind of civilian mission from one state or another? What did they do? Did they fulfill their duties? Did they stop the war? Did they write any documents? No. They didn't even bother to draw up any documents after the invasion that would expose the treacherous attack on a peaceful Pridnestrovian city. No. They didn't care about the killing of people, they didn't care about the crisis that had ensued, and so on. They calmly left. With a clear conscience or not, they left. They abandoned the city of Bendery. Naturally, to stop the treacherous attack after the agreement was signed, peacekeepers entered Bendery at the end of July 1992. The peacekeepers stopped the lawlessness perpetrated by Moldovan security forces in Bendery. The peacekeeping mission has been ongoing for 34 years on the banks of the Dniester. It is thanks to the peacekeepers that escalation and tension have been prevented; there is no war on the banks of the Dniester, thank God, only thanks to the peacekeepers. The question arises: until what point should peacekeepers remain? It arises. I will also answer it. The first point is until the problem is fully resolved. There is a second nuance. To date, Moldova has not given a legal assessment of the killing of Pridnestrovian civilians. Let me remind you that more than 800 people died. Of these, more than 400 were civilians. You know, in any state even one without the rule of law a criminal case is opened when one person is killed. Right? Whether it's an attempted murder or a death threat, a criminal case is opened, investigative bodies are called in, including detectives, the prosecutor's office, and so on. Then a court reviews the matter, and the person is held accountable under the law. Over 800 people have been killed. There are no criminal cases opened, no legal assessment. So, of course, peacekeepers will remain here until there's a legal assessment, so they can understand and know. A legal assessment would preclude further negative developments, but there isn't one.
I can give an analogy. The people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia celebrated the 18th anniversary of their recognition of independence. It was 2008. We remember August 8, 2008, when Georgia perfidiously attacked Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, where people, citizens, died. President Saakashvili was behind this; this has already been proven, it has been announced. He is in prison in Georgia. I want to pay tribute to modern Georgia. They are doing well. No matter how difficult it was, the Prime Minister of Georgia openly stated this: yes, it was an attack by Georgia on Tskhinvali. There is a guilty party, they bear responsibility as provided by law – and the questions are answered, you understand? They have shed their historical cross. The cross of this sin – fratricide. All people are truly brothers. So, they have shed their cross of fratricide in Georgia. They have a bright future, I'm sure of it, because they take their historical memory seriously and they take the future seriously. They don't want to pass this sin on to their children. They don't understand this in Moldova. They think in Moldova it will pass, and that this cross they bear will be passed on to their children. They will bear this cross—the sin of killing Pridnestrovian citizens. This is a very serious matter, indeed. A very serious matter. Therefore, of course, without a legal assessment of what happened, we won't even discuss the future status of the peacekeepers. They must serve here in Pridnestrovie and maintain the peace.
Alexander Lagutin, RIA News:
Vadim Nikolaevich, Moldova's Information and Security Service held a press conference regarding the situation at the Russian ammunition depots in the village of Colbasna last week. Former President Igor Dodon openly stated that various provocations were possible at these depots. Why are people in Moldova talking about these depots now in your opinion? What is the situation around these depots? What needs to be done to resolve the issue with the ammunition stored there?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
You know, I was surprised by the Information and Security Service's press conference on this issue. Why did they suddenly bring up the depots, start assessing the situation, assessing the security and defense of these facilities, and assessing the risk of an explosion? What's the point of all this? Will this improve life in Moldova, will pensions rise, will wages increase, or will stability be achieved immediately? I don't know. Why the Information and Security Service convened, I don't know honestly. You'd have to ask them. Why did this whole agenda even come up today? It's clear to everyone, even to non-experts: any explosion is bad. Of course, the munitions can't all explode at once. That's my guess. The explosion of even a single storage facility would be a disaster for nearby settlements and for the city of Rybnitsa, perhaps. Do you understand? The appropriate specialists should evaluate this. They were already speculating about what would and wouldn't happen, using examples from Russia and Ukraine. We shouldn't do this at all. We need to think about ways to prevent this from happening, that's all. We need to think about munitions disposal. Of course we do. I don't want to leave munitions here for our children: bombs that have already expired, are no longer functional, and so on. It's all dangerous.
Let me remind you. All officials, both the opposition and current officials, they love to speculate on this topic. Whoever goes to Brussels and other parts of Europe and beyond, everyone loves to talk about ammunition disposal, the withdrawal of Russian troops, and so on. Of course, one can talk, but something needs to be done. I officially declare that Pridnestrovie is in favor of reducing this arsenal. Of course, it's common sense. This must be done according to some kind of algorithm, a plan, some kind of framework agreements. I don't know if Moldovan citizens know about this, or if they don't, or maybe they've forgotten. If they show it on Moldovan channels, it would be very good. History: 2019, August. Seven years ago. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pridnestrovie. I met with him in Bendery. He came basically with one question: reducing these depots. So, the Russian Defense Minister, naturally, guided by orders from the Russian Supreme Command, flies to Pridnestrovie to coordinate the issue of ammunition reduction. We coordinated it. We issued a corresponding statement that, yes, Russia and Pridnestrovie are ready to reduce the ammunition in the depots. But what does Moldova do? This issue is already addressed to Moldova after all by and large, and the ball is in their court. Let me remind you that Igor Nikolaevich Dodon was the President of Moldova that time, and Maia Grigoryevna Sandu was the Prime Minister. They should have immediately flown to Moscow with this issue and signed some kind of framework agreement with the President of the Russian Federation and the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, to establish a starting point, to have a legal basis for reducing this arsenal. What did they do? Nothing. So, essentially, the entire issue fell under the responsibility of Moldovan officials after our statement and after Russia's decision. They've done nothing to reduce these munitions. Nothing. Zero. What question is there for us, what question is there for the Russian Federation, if you Moldovan officials refuse to do anything? It probably benefits them to have this problem and talk about it everywhere, to be praised and applauded everywhere. That's just the way it is. The situation has changed, of course: the fighting in Ukraine complicates everything, there's no negotiation process, and Moldova refuses to discuss anything with the Russian Federation, including this one. What next? I can advise Moldovan officials to approach the Russian Federation on this issue and resolve it there. Russia is the owner. When a decision is made, when any framework agreements or other agreements or contracts are signed, then they should come to us. We, as the local government, must ensure environmental safety, maintain the humanitarian situation, and think about logistics. Or dispose of it locally. Roads need to be built to transport it if it's not here. And so on. Do you understand? It's a whole complex issue. But the decision is up to the Moldovan side. So let them decide. That's the truth. Therefore, these questions are inappropriate for us and for the Russian Federation: they've spoken. The decision is up to the Moldovan side. the actions are up to the Moldovan side ultimately.
Why the Moldova's Information and Security Service is generating this, I don't know. It's all strange. We'll see how things unfold.
Alla Ivanchenko, News of Pridnestrovie News Agency:
Vadim Nikolaevich, how do you assess the OSCE's current role as a mediator in the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian negotiation process?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I have always spoken about the positive role of the OSCE. Of course, they are needed as mediators and observers in the negotiation process. I see no reason to exclude the OSCE from the negotiation process. They are working as mediators. I would like the OSCE to be a little firmer, perhaps, and to insist on reaching some kind of agreement between Pridnestrovie and Moldova and to monitor the implementation of these agreements, of course. Unfortunately, this is not the case. We are currently seeing changes in the OSCE leadership in Moldova. We will definitely continue our work. I still hope for the benefits that the OSCE should bring to both sides in this conflict.
Dmitry Matveyev, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich citizens have been bombarded recently with an avalanche of false narratives, information that may originate from pseudo-historians, with claims of historical facts that are completely contrary to what we know and for which there is ample evidence. Pridnestrovie recently adopted a law on accountability for crimes against the Pridnestrovian people during the Great Patriotic War, for the genocide of the Pridnestrovian people. Why was this decision made now, and what does it mean? What will it mean in the future?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Let me begin by saying that a law has been passed on the genocide of the Pridnestrovian people as part of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War, that is during the occupation of so-called Pridnestrovie, among other things. This is the response of our legislators and President to the distortion of history that is actually occurring in modern Moldova. Perhaps, if there weren't history textbooks that, so to speak, rewrite the events of the Great Patriotic War, this law wouldn't exist. Let me remind you that modern Moldovan history textbooks for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 explicitly rehabilitate Nazi criminals: Antonescu and Alexeanu, the governor of the so-called “transnistria”. They were convicted and executed in Romania in 1946. Furthermore, there are the findings of the Nuremberg Tribunal. Moreover, in 2002, Romania confirmed the findings of all tribunals regarding these officials, and the rehabilitation of these Nazi criminals was banned.
If you recall history, read it, delve into it, you encounter horrific things. More than 400000 people—Jewish, Roma, and other nationalities—were exterminated in the so-called Governorate of “transnistria”. Tens of thousands of people were exterminated in the most brutal manner in the territory of today's Pridnestrovie. They were buried alive, burned alive, children, infants were shot, you understand? It was total annihilation. Even Hitler praised Antonescu, holding him up as an example for the SS – how to exterminate people on an industrial scale, you understand? And he's called a competent administrator in Moldovan history textbooks. Well, perhaps he was a competent administrator in terms of industrial-scale extermination of people. He's a criminal, a monster. So, he's a positive hero, a competent administrator in Moldovan history textbooks. That force, the Red Army, which drove this scum from our territory, is an occupier. You understand? An occupier. How can one react to that? So, of course, the answer – the law on the genocide of the Pridnestrovian people as part of the Soviet people – was issued by the Supreme Soviet and signed.
We clearly defined the concept of the "Pridnestrovian people" in this law. We provided a legal justification, although, by and large, if you open the first article of the Constitution of the PMR, what does it say? "We, the people of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic..." What disputes and problems could there be? The first article of the Constitution states: "We, the people of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic" The Pridnestrovian people. Everyone understands it. We've defined this concept in this law. Furthermore, we've formulated four characteristics of genocide. I'll outline; you need to understand. The first characteristic is political: the defeat of the political rights and freedoms of citizens living in a certain territory. The second characteristic is economic: the defeat of the economic rights and freedoms of citizens living in a given territory. The third characteristic is linguistic: the imposition of a titular nation and one language to the detriment of others. The fourth characteristic is the murder of people for one reason or another (religious, national, territorial—whatever). Four characteristics. They have been identified by our lawyers and are already part of our legal framework. Apply any conflict to these four characteristics and answer the questions yourself, both for today and for the events of 1992, and everything will truly become clear to you.
Those same Moldovan history textbooks promote the titularity of the nation, the Romanian nation. Other textbooks, published in Moldova, identify the nationalities living in modern Moldova, in historical Bessarabia: Romanians and national minorities – Russians, Ukrainians, Jews, Belarusians, Gagauz, Bulgarians. There are no Moldovans. There are no Moldovans, you understand? They've even reached the point where textbooks even proclaim the absence of Moldovans as such – only Bessarabian Romanians. That's their choice. As for titularity, I consider it's a flawed concept altogether. What is titularity? This is the superiority of one person over another based on nationality. So, you're the titular one in Moldova, but if you go to Bulgaria, who are you? They're actually degrading themselves by claiming to be the titular one somewhere. Who are you in Russia then? Who are you in Ukraine? Who are you in European countries then? You understand, right? If someone thinks they're putting themselves forward, it's like a boomerang. I told you: if you push yourself too hard, you'll get hit in the head with a boomerang, so to speak. Titularity is a flawed concept. By the way, it's completely anti-religious, anti-Orthodox. There are no divisions among believers. There are other faiths that must be respected. The Orthodox don't divide into nationalities – all believe in God. Churches are being built in Moldova. How is that possible? How does all this fit into one whole, in one bottle? It can't be done that way. We're seeing interethnic harmony in Pridnestrovie. Wonderful videos have just been released about the Pridnestrovian people, about the ethnic groups living here: Russians, Ukrainians, Moldovans, Bulgarians, Gagauz, Poles, Germans, Roma, Cossacks, and so on. We'll make all the videos about the peoples living here. We have complete understanding, complete interethnic harmony and interreligious harmony. We don't have these problems, and we can't have them. They do. That is, we are completely different here. Categorically different.
Let's return to this law and the issue of rehabilitating Nazi criminals. Let's look at history. Our history is fundamentally different in its understanding. History is the same, but our understanding of history is different. Those who killed, raped, and burned are heroes for them. Those who destroyed this scum are traitors for them. It's the opposite for us: those who liberated our region are heroes, of course. They are also heroes for the entire civilized world. Let's take 1992. Again: whoever invaded here, whoever killed civilians here, whoever carried out terrorist attacks, they're heroes to them. For us, they're inhuman. The attitude toward the Soviet period again. We all see attacks on the Soviet period from various Moldovan politicians: they say it was Soviet occupation. What occupiers: they built 5000 enterprises, thousands of schools, kindergartens, rehabilitation centers, healthcare facilities, social services, and infrastructure. I don't know of any occupiers in the world who would be so concerned about the local population. I'm convinced that those who say this can't even undo everything the Soviet regime did. Destroy it, yes, they destroyed it all. Hardly, but destroy it, easily, you see? How many of those 5000 enterprises remain in modern-day Moldova? Dozens, probably. Everything else was simply destroyed, just like during Antonescu's aggression. Something like that.
Returning to the topic raised by Alla Kharlampievna regarding the demand to release all those detained, I want to recall history. We've been through this before, and Bessarabia has been through it too, a very pitiful experience. Let me remind you: after the February Revolution of 1917, by decision of the Provisional Government and the so-called Soviets, all criminals in the Russian Empire were released. Everyone, both political prisoners and criminals. The territory of the Russian Empire was simply bloodied from criminal lawlessness until the Bolsheviks came to power, until October 1917. This was the next, so-called criminal revolution. Pogroms were carried out, including in Bessarabia: hundreds of people died, thousands of people died. That's their understanding of history, that's how they interpret it, you understand? They don't learn anything. You can't live like that. They think that once they come to power, all history before them is wiped clean, that nothing happened, that there's no need to study it, react to it, and draw no conclusions. This is bad, this is dangerous. We are actually holding them back. With our decisions, with our laws, we are holding Moldova back. Besides, in concluding my answer to this question. I would like to point out once again that regarding history textbooks that rehabilitate Nazi criminals, this isn't just our assessment, not just that of our Pridnestrovian State University or our Supreme Council. It's the assessment of Holocaust studies institutes in Jerusalem, Bucharest, and Washington. Jewish communities all over the world are actually protesting these history textbooks. He must be a very powerful advocate. That's the only explanation I can give. I think that common sense will prevail and the matter will be settled sooner or later.
Irina Levitskaya, TSV:
Vadim Nikolaevich, I'd like to continue the topic of history. You mentioned that Pridnestrovie has expressed its position, assessed historical events, and adopted the relevant law. I'd like to draw attention to another action by Moldova: the Integration Bureau has already reached out to our Pridnestrovian schools. They don't like the history taught in our schools, they don't like the fact that we plan to begin the school week with the raising of the national flag and the anthem. Why is this happening? You said that what history to teach in Moldova is their choice, but they don't like the history taught here. What are they trying to achieve?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
It's their problem, what they don't like, let's start with that. We are completely unconcerned by these statements. We will do what is required, what is given to us by our history and respect for our ancestors. I would advise the Integration Bureau to focus its efforts on stopping the rehabilitation of Nazism in modern Moldova. That's my advice to them, that's all. Meddling in our affairs and dictating terms, threatening our children, well, that's just another example of Nazi behavior, you could say. We've been through this before, but no matter: we've overcome it all before and we'll overcome it again.
Veniamin Demidetsky, TASS:
Chisinau has embarked on a course of severing energy ties and has created a ton of problems and costly projects for itself. Please tell, are there any opportunities today for the joint, mutually beneficial use of the Moldavian GRES?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
There are no such opportunities for the joint use of the Moldavian GRES in the interests of Moldova currently.
Veniamin Demidetsky, TASS:
In the mutually beneficial interests of Pridnestrovie.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I don't see such a possibility yet.
Veniamin Demidetsky, TASS:
Are you monitoring relations between Chisinau and Comrat? And does this affect Chisinau's credibility in the current conflict? After all, you were once in a similar situation, both Pridnestrovie and Gagauzia. But Gagauzia signed some agreements with Moldova, and now they're in conflict. Does this affect trust?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic:
Well, of course it does. We're closely monitoring Chisinau's attitude toward Comrat and have come to the same conclusion: a "tame" court could nullify all agreements. Just as we're seeing in today's Chisinau. I've already said that human rights don't apply to certain structures and buildings in Moldova such as the airport, and perhaps others as well. Any court can make any decision and overturn all agreements. What's the point of signing agreements with Chisinau if any court can overturn them? Just as it overturned the corresponding autonomous status of Gagauzia and the rights that came with it. This is all dangerous trends. We are drawing certain conclusions.
Ekaterina Poshelyuk, Press Service of the Pridnestrovian Ministry of Defense:
The republic is 36. The Year of the Pridnestrovian People. Our Pridnestrovian people are multinational, multi-confessional, and multi-professional. One of the fundamental professions at all times is that of defender of the Fatherland. Our army celebrates an anniversary this year: its own armed forces were created 35 years ago, at the dawn of the republic. How important was this step then, and how important is it now to develop the army and glorify the profession of defender of the people, defender of the Fatherland?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Yes, there is such a profession, as a famous hero once said, to defend the Motherland. This will always be the case for all peoples. That's how the world is formed. Regarding the need for creation, I'll explain. We just discussed genocide, and I mentioned the characteristics: deprivation of political rights and freedoms, economic pressure, linguistic pressure, and the extermination of people for one reason or another. Let me remind you that at the dawn of modern Moldova, the central government essentially legally renounced Pridnestrovie. This can be seen in the Declaration of Independence of Moldova and other documents. Citizens living in Pridnestrovie were denied legal assistance in other words. Police wouldn't accept reports if any criminal acts were committed here. Police and the Moldovan prosecutor's office wouldn't accept them if people were killed here. People found themselves in a vacuum. Excuse me, how could this be? How is it even possible for the central government to reject applications and refuse to consider them from citizens residing in a particular territory? Territoriality is key here. Naturally, there were armed provocations in Dubasary after simply denying legal assistance, then the treacherous attack on Bendery. Essentially, what the citizens of Pridnestrovie did was a civil protest. A civil protest against treachery, against violence, against dictatorship, against titularity. A protest for the right to speak their native language, for the right to live on their native land. There were no armed forces as such back then. It was a largely chaotic movement, hence the casualties, which could have even been minimized in some places. Naturally, to prevent this from happening again, armed forces are needed, that is, a disciplined structure, with a command, regulations, and so on. That's why it was created: to protect the people of Pridnestrovie, to protect our state, to protect the right to speak our native language. So that no one would try to convince us that Antonescu was a hero and the Red Army an occupier, you understand? That's what an army is for. I'm proud of the Pridnestrovian army. I bow low to any defender of the Fatherland, and to the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in particular.
Natalia Zhelobaeva, Radio 1:
Many important questions have already been asked here: political, economic, human rights, and so on. It's clear that our government strives to raise these pressing issues at every available forum, including international ones. Representatives of international organizations and diplomatic missions from various countries regularly visit us. How effective are these dialogues with international partners in your opinion? Are we being heard and listened to?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
It's difficult in this regard. We are certainly being heard, but there's no point in talking about any fundamental changes in the foreign policy agenda. The most important decision international actors must make – is to return to the negotiating table. Either the "5+2" format or another format, but return to the negotiating table. Of course, the "5+2" format is the best. It is internationally recognized. Everything else is a consequence. The most important step for all international participants in all possible negotiations and discussions is to return to the negotiating table. We're expecting this; we're working with them to achieve this. We'll see.
Irina Davydenko, TSV:
We've seen a high level of cross-border crime in recent years. Large quantities of drugs are being smuggled into our country from Moldova, we see this through the work of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Customs Committee. Telephone scammers are also calling our citizens from Moldova. They're reaching a new level, forcing people, so to speak, to psychologically force them to even bring money to Moldova themselves, not just by couriers. What can be done to stop this export of crime? What additional measures can be added to those already being taken?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I understand all these things very well as a former law enforcement officer and can tell you with certainty that criminals know no borders or nationality. They don't care about titles. They are criminals: they can commit crimes in Pridnestrovie, in Moldova, anywhere. Naturally, we must fight them. Don't let them go, as Promo-LEX demands, but fight them.
I'll give you some figures. I read reports that law enforcement in Ukraine, Moldova, and, I consider, Romania, have uncovered a large drug cartel network, detained over 300 individuals involved in drug production, and seized a large quantity of prohibited substances. Of course, these substances exist. Some work is probably being done in Moldova. These prohibited substances – narcotics, psychotropic substances, and so on are smuggled, including into Pridnestrovie. I've repeatedly appealed to Moldovan law enforcement. We shouldn't appeal to law enforcement, but to politicians, so that we can establish a mechanism for jointly combating this evil. I'll give you some figures: 36 couriers were detained at the border last year. Detained, you understand? Nobody knows how many crossed. Thirty-six couriers were detained last year, and 24 couriers have been detained this year on the Pridnestrovian border. Naturally, all of them have been detained, and certain investigative measures are being carried out. What should a joint fight look like? A person has been detained. We can allow operatives to visit these detainees by signing certain agreements. These operatives can come, talk to them, interrogate them, obtain copies of the relevant materials, and, naturally, come to an understanding of where they are "loaded" in Moldova, who is directing them, and how to combat them. We have a large volume of materials; we also have relevant information: and not only about drug couriers, but also about where and who is involved in drug distribution in Moldova. But they refuse; they don't want to. So how can we convince them that this is necessary? In my opinion, this is common sense. But there is no desire on their part. The same applies to so-called telephone scammers. This year, we have opened 34 criminal cases against telephone scammers calling from Moldova and defrauding people of all ages, primarily those of retirement age. Certain call centers in Moldova are behind these scams. We've proposed working together to combat this scourge, but there's been no response. I don't understand the logic of all this frankly. After all, Moldovan law enforcement is ready and willing to cooperate. I know many Moldovan law enforcement officials, and they say bluntly that they have no instructions. I understand their point: they can't cooperate; they have no right to without instructions. I agree with that, too. Therefore, as long as certain officials politicize normal relations, there will be no results, including in law enforcement. They are simply politicizing them. Where there is politicization, there are no results.
Darya Bespechnaya, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Repairs and modernization of various facilities continue in Pridnestrovie through the Capital Investment Fund specifically, clinics, hospitals, ambulance stations, and first aid posts despite the challenging economic situation. Our Pridnestrovians also continue to receive medical care abroad, also at the state's expense. How do you assess the development of the healthcare system under the current circumstances?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Of course, the situation is challenging. We found sources this year and continued this state program in Pridnestrovie with regard to the Capital Investment Fund. One of the largest and most costly areas is healthcare facilities. I'd like to remind you that the surgical building in Rybnitsa was already completed this year; Vitaly Nikolayevich opened it. We are also nearing the final completion of a clinic in Slobodzeya. A clinic in Grigoriopol is also undergoing renovations. Significant funds are being invested in the renovation of the Republican Clinical Hospital. There's also an ambulance station, which is also under construction and currently undergoing renovation. The Bendery City Hospital is also under construction. So, basically, practically the entire republic is covered by this fund.
As for the Republican Clinical Hospital, the infectious diseases wing will be completed this October. This is a major step in the development of our healthcare system. It has been brought up to all standards, and elevators have been installed. Please, imagine: there were no elevators in this four-story building. Orderlies and nurses had to carry people up and down the floors, because even the disabled suffer from infectious diseases. Can you imagine what it was like? There are elevators, everything is modern. The cardiology department, also a four-story building, is also undergoing renovation. We also aim to complete it this year. A simulation center is also under construction. It houses the administrative department and academic department of the Pridnestrovian State University and the Medical Institute. We're putting a roof on the blood transfusion station. We're holding a lot of events. We're also constantly working to acquire equipment. I wanted to announce this a little later, so I'll say it now. The Republican Clinical Hospital, thanks to the Russian Federation, is acquiring a very important device for minimally invasive knee surgery. This is very much in demand by our citizens. The device is very modern. There's one in Moldova, and one will be in Pridnestrovie. Most importantly, there are specialists, people who operate this device. We perform complex knee surgeries, hip surgeries specifically, surgeries related to the musculoskeletal system. I'll be honest: we've overcome the pandemic that's passed, of course, and our citizens have overcome it, but the consequences remain. The consequences remain for joints, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Therefore, the development of modern medicine is essential. I'm generally a supporter of developing all cutting-edge technologies in Tiraspol, so that every citizen of Pridnestrovie can receive modern medical care within our walls. At the very least, at least 90 percent, you understand? There will be results. We're moving toward that. The most important thing is to have specialists. We have a medical institute at the Pridnestrovian State University, and a corresponding college. Thanks to these educational institutions, we're essentially fully staffed with medical personnel. Currently, we have 80% doctors, 90% nurses, and 95% orderlies. This is a good indicator for the healthcare system. Naturally, we've introduced appropriate work-hour standards and so on. This also has a positive impact on the staffing process. We've managed to increase salaries thanks to the work of the government and the Supreme Council,, which has also had a positive impact on the stability of our healthcare system.
In fact, if you look at the state and describe its functions in very simple terms, what should the state do? Treat, teach, and protect. It's very simple. Treat, educate, and protect the safety of citizens. If the state is unable to fulfill any of these functions under any given circumstances, it fails. Therefore, the emphasis must be on these positions. Naturally, I am sending this message to the government and the Supreme Council: please, remember – treat, educate, and protect. It's very simple.
Zinaida Kitskan, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Another pressing question about bread. I'd like to ask: how did you manage to withstand the drought this year? How did our farmers cope? What are the harvest forecasts? Will we be able to ensure food security for the republic?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
This is a very pressing question. We are an industrial and agricultural republic, of course. The drought hasn't only affected Pridnestrovie. Many regions of Europe have suffered. We've seen this through the media. We weren't just battling the drought today; we've been preparing for it all these years. Let me remind you how we prepared all these years. We focused on land reclamation. What's the current state of land reclamation? We had 9000 hectares under reclamation as of January 1, 2017. We have over 40000 hectares under reclamation today, thanks to programs, the work of the Supreme Council, the government, and the agricultural sector as a whole. This is somewhere around 17 percent of the total agricultural land. We were able to stabilize the drought situation, transition to abundant irrigation, and ultimately achieve a good harvest thanks to this. A good harvest is largely due to reclamation, especially for vegetables, which simply don't grow without reclamation. Grain crops are doing better, but vegetables, not so much. Corn and peas require reclamation although. Many agricultural producers are already irrigating their wheat fields and are achieving yields of up to 100 centners per hectare with irrigation. The average wheat harvest in Pridnestrovie is currently 50 centners. A good harvest, by and large. It's been quite successful this year, thanks to our spring weather. If we look at agricultural product groups, I can outline them. We are fully supplied with grains and for more than just one year, so to speak, in storage. Furthermore, this gives us good export potential for our agricultural producers, including foreign currency inflows to our bank. The next point is vegetables. We are currently fully supplied with the entire vegetable basket, the entire so-called borscht group of vegetables in Pridnestrovie thanks to land reclamation and the work of our agricultural enterprises. We are slightly short of potatoes, but I think the potential is there. Basically, everything grown in Pridnestrovie is on the table of Pridnestrovians. It's a good, environmentally friendly product. Sunflower oil: we have the potential to produce sunflower oil in Pridnestrovie for consumption in our republic. As for dairy products, our domestic producers provide us with about 65% of our milk. These are primarily the Tiraspol Dairy Plant and Fialt-Agro (Blagoda), of course. These companies provide us with 65% of our dairy product needs. This is a good percentage, but there is room for improvement. I think 80% is a reasonable target, something to strive for. Regarding meat products, the domestic market is almost 100% self-sufficient in beef, about 70% self-sufficient in pork, and about 57% self-sufficient in chicken. The beef that is imported is mainly used for production at meat processing plants. This means that Pridnestrovian citizens are fully supplied with fresh meat. Therefore, I would like to commend the work of our agricultural sector and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Alexander Lagutin, RIA News:
Vadim Nikolaevich, I would like to raise an issue that is currently being discussed in Tiraspol and elsewhere. The Ministry of Internal Affairs press service issued a statement regarding the situation surrounding the Tiraet and Avtored home appliance stores. Moldovan media outlets are even reporting that Tiraet has been the target of some kind of corporate raid. How would you comment on this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
It's a fact that the media, or so-called Moldovan media, hypes any topic related to Pridnestrovie in a negative light. When have they ever said anything positive about Pridnestrovie? About schools, about children, about kindergartens, about sports, about the culture of our people, about the Pridnestrovian people. Never. Any negative information is picked up, generated, and spread.
Regarding corporate raids, we don't have any issue with corporate raids in Pridnestrovie. In 10 years, two terms as President, I can say with certainty: there hasn't been a single corporate raid on any enterprise in Pridnestrovie. All issues are resolved exclusively in the Arbitration Court. Why should Tiraet be subject to corporate raids? No, it's of no interest to anyone in that regard. It should only be of interest to those owners who are there. Regarding financial audits and tax audits... Yes, by the way, quite a few of those have been conducted over the past 10 years. There hasn't been a single instance of ownership transferring from one person to another after these financial audits. There isn't, can't be, and won't be. Definitely not. Regarding the audits themselves, of course, there should be audits. I'll reveal, since this issue has generated such a public outcry, what prompted these audits and what violations were uncovered. Payment of salaries in envelopes. Excuse me, the difference in envelopes was 10 times greater than the amounts legally paid. 10 times. What does concealing a taxable asset, that is, legally paid salaries, mean? This represents huge losses for the budget, enormous losses for the budget: non-payment of social taxes, pension funds, and so on. This is unacceptable. The budget losses are in the millions. This is, essentially, theft, pre-emptive theft from the budget. I've already said that we fully meet all social obligations. We do and will continue to do so. Is it really possible to run a business like this? Furthermore, there was the failure to collect proceeds for sold inventory. It makes millions of dollars. The failure to collect proceeds at all, even at individual branches – no revenue was collected at all. The failure to register inventory before sale. All of this resulted, of course, in enormous amounts of lost tax revenue – for both the local budget and the republican budget. Millions. We have articles for tax crimes. These aren't political articles – they're simply tax crimes, economic crimes. Ultimately, a tragedy occurred: the accountant of this company died. It’s very sad, really. The man had a blood clot. He must have been overwhelmed. I'd like to take this opportunity to address all the accountants in our country. Dear accountants in the commercial sector, do not violate laws of Pridnestrovie. Do not conceal taxes. Do not follow the orders of owners who give you criminal instructions not to collect proceeds or record inventory. Then, as they say, these owners will point the finger at you and make you guilty, or you'll simply be listed as one of the guilty. You don't need that. You must work honestly.
By the way, Hi-Tech paid its fines in full. As an example, has Hi-Tech's ownership changed? No. The owner is the same, everything is fine, they're working. Even their employees are doing well – they paid one and a half million to the "Together" Foundation, meaning they live in Pridnestrovie alongside the Pridnestrovian people. Yes, they acknowledged their guilt, paid substantial fines, and continue working. They're looking to the future, developing – well done, no question about it. Well, that's just how it happened, so what can you do? So, it would seem, that's the lesson. From January 1st, that's it, period, work, don't break the rules. And here's an example. Tiraet. The turnover is considerable. Why do this? The investigation, inquiry, and trial will put an end to this matter. But under no circumstances, so to speak, hostile takeovers. I appeal to the citizens of Pridnestrovie: well, think about it when you listen to the Moldovan media, and know this: they only seek out negativity and generate it. I've already said: they treat us with hostility. You've probably never heard from the Moldovan media about detentions at the airport, about the deportation of our citizens, about illegal actions during elections, when bridges were mined, and so on. They omit this, these so-called media, it's as if it doesn't exist. You've probably never heard from these media about Moldovan textbooks on the rehabilitation of Nazism and fascism—it doesn't exist. You've never heard about the 1992 war, or about the assessment of those actions and events. As for the tax audit, yes, it does cause a public outcry.
That's why I always say: do everything correctly and legally. If you don't know what to do, do it legally. If a topic comes up in the Moldovan media, there must be an immediate response from our media and our relevant specialists, who must explain to people what's going on. Any issue, even the most complex, can be explained in simple terms, as I'm doing today, you understand? It's not just the President who must do this, dear officials; you and your subordinate staff must do it too. That's how it should be. We must be in constant contact with the people—always in live communication. It can't be any other way. We can't shut ourselves off and cite some kind of norm, we can't talk. We can say everything. We must say everything. That's my message.
Dmitry Matveyev, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Moldovan media have reported that a large number of Pridnestrovian citizens have been traveling to work in the Republic of Moldova recently. How would you comment on this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
This is largely being politicized and hyped. Knowing this issue again, I specifically requested data on border crossings from our customs and border services – after the pandemic. This applies to 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. Yes, we are seeing a 10-12% increase in border crossings, but this is not an increase. In principle, people have always worked – this is completely normal. I know that many from Moldova work in Romania, Europe, and Russia. Pridnestrovians also work in Europe, Russia, and Moldova. This is normal, it's all natural. There are no problems here, and it's unlikely that anyone will be able to spin a story out of this. Well, they work, good job, and that's good. But they come here and spend money in Pridnestrovie, it’s wonderful.
Irina Levitskaya, TSV:
A pedagogical forum was held in Pridnestrovie last week, where Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Neagu announced good news for parents and teachers: new textbooks will be delivered to schools starting September 1st—for grades 5, 6, and 7, for now, with plans to print 150000 copies in the near future. That's a significant number. Vadim Nikolayevich, is this enough to solve the problem of worn-out textbooks, and do we plan to continue this work of updating teaching aids?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
I'll tell you from the start how it all came about. Vitaly Nikolayevich Neagu was involved in this matter. He worked with Russian officials. Thanks to the assistance of Russian officials and the work of Vitaly Nikolaevich, we were able to secure a grant of 100 million Russian rubles, which was used for textbook production. We've basically specified the quantity. The first batches have begun arriving in our schools. These are updated textbooks: fifth, sixth, seventh, and so on for all grades. Of course, the textbook stock is worn out. My daughter is studying, and I see these textbooks stuck together and so on. New textbooks are coming soon. This is the first stage. I hope for other stages as well. The textbooks that arrive will already significantly update the stock that our schools have. Therefore, my deepest gratitude goes to the leadership of the Russian Federation, the President of the Russian Federation, and everyone who participated in this process. A big thank you to Vitaly Nikolaevich. The textbooks must be delivered to schools by September 1st and distributed efficiently and promptly.
Alla Ivanchenko, News of Pridnestrovie News Agency
Vadim Nikolaevich, what threat does the shallowing of the Dniester pose to Pridnestrovie?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Any cataclysmic event is always bad. The Dniester has experienced similar shallowing before. These are probably seasonal variations. Remember, we had the 2008 flood during this period, a large volume of water. Now it's shallowing. All of Europe suffers, by and large, from the shallowing of rivers: the Danube, the Rhine, and other rivers also have low water levels. The Dniester has also become shallow. I hope that after the rains in the fall and winter, the water level will rise. We are, prepared for this, of course. The most important thing is the water intake for our citizens – it exists, and it operates without any problems, providing drinking water. Land reclamation: there were some problems, but I think they will be resolved locally. There are technical and engineering options for resolving these issues going forward. The government also needs to address this issue. The Dniester River is teeming with fish, the fish are being caught, and the fish are being stocked. We need to be prepared for anything. We are. Incidentally, we're also prepared for floods. We've invested in raising the dams since 2008. Essentially, all the dangerous areas where the dams could break or where water could cross them have been eliminated. So, we'll be able to handle any flooding, so to speak. God forbid, of course.
Alexander Lagutin, RIA News:
Vadim Nikolaevich, the presidential campaign starts in September. The Pridnestrovian presidential election is scheduled for December. There were reports that Moldovan security services would try to somehow influence this process. We remember when there were parliamentary elections at all levels, there were attempts to intimidate members of precinct election commissions. How will Tiraspol respond to this? What will Tiraspol do about this?
Another question – whether you'll answer it or not: the Russian State Duma elections are coming up soon. Is there any information on whether our citizens will be able to participate?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Of course, I will. Let's recall the four signs of genocide. Among them is the suppression of political rights and freedoms. Every citizen in any state must have political rights and freedoms. When these are suppressed or conditions are created to intimidate people and prevent them from participating in electoral cycles, that's not democracy. That's dictatorship. We will hold elections. 17 polling stations will be opened in Pridnestrovie for the elections to the Russian State Duma. In Moldova, there's one in Chisinau, according to my information. In Pridnestrovie, 17 polling stations will be open specifically for the elections to the Russian State Duma. We traditionally always hold these elections, and we will do so this year as well. The relevant structures are working to ensure this, and these stations are provided with everything necessary.
As for the presidential elections in Pridnestrovie, they will also be held as scheduled, in December. I am confident that everything will be successful on our side. I hope that the citizens of Pridnestrovie will take the most active part, because it is, again, our civic duty to defend Pridnestrovie. In essence, that's exactly it.
I'm completely amazed by the Moldovan security services. They're genuinely intimidating employees of the Central Election Commission, employees of precinct election commissions, and so on, stripping some people of their citizenship, organizing these interrogations and pressuring them at the Chisinau airport, and so on. Excuse me, but every territory should have a government. What are you proposing, gentlemen? No government? Release all the criminals and not elect a president? Is that what you're proposing? Assess the actions of Moldovan human rights organizations, government officials, or security services: some are proposing releasing all the criminals, others are doing everything they can to prevent the Supreme Council or presidential elections, and still others are stifling economic activity. That's what they're doing. What are they hoping for? That Pridnestrovie will be left without a government? Let Pridnestrovie not be left without power. We have numerous legal mechanisms for maintaining power in Pridnestrovie. We want to live by the Constitution. I am in favor of a rotating government; I've said this repeatedly: two terms – that's it; the next one must take office and move Pridnestrovie forward. Of course, there will be pressure – I have no doubt about it. We will resist it. We also have the appropriate structures and propaganda capabilities. The final say rests with the citizens of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
Dmitry Matveyev, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, much attention has been paid to the pressing issue of preserving historical memory, in recent years, especially in 2026. What projects in this area do you consider the most significant?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Yes, not only this year – our state is systematically working on historical memory. Memorials to the Great Patriotic War, and not only to the Great Patriotic War, are being restored. Parks are being built. This year, the Museum Quarter in Tiraspol, the capital of our republic, will be completed. This is a very significant undertaking.
I would like to give a little insight. Basically, these are 20 halls and locations, appropriately designed—from archeology to the present day. That is, these are halls dedicated to archeology, the Middle Ages, the early Middle Ages, the Russian Empire, the Moldavian SSR, the MASSR, and the Civil War. The Civil War Hall is 50/50 dedicated to both the White and Red movements. This is very interesting; it's our history. In addition, there will be a Local History Museum, a Nature Museum, a Cossack Museum, a Museum of Religious Faiths, and a Museum of the Peoples of Pridnestrovie. The Great Patriotic War Museum, the Soviet Union Museum, the Hall of Remembrance, the Afghan War Museum, and the Museum of Modern Pridnestrovie are already open. We've built a cross-section of a Scythian burial mound on the museum grounds. They exist all over Pridnestrovie, yes, but no one sees them from the inside. That's quite interesting: how it's equipped, how everything is arranged, where the remains of the deceased soldier lie, what items were buried with him. All of this will be on display. We've collected abandoned Soviet monuments, and they will also be installed in a special location in the Museum Quarter. This complex houses a small library with a thousand books: classics of Russian literature, history, and many Pridnestrovian publications. Anyone who visits the museum can visit this library, choose a book, and read. They can sit for an hour at a table in a cozy atmosphere, devoting time to history, the museum, and a book. And one more thing. An idea has emerged. There's a conference hall there, a very respectable one. We will use this hall for the following events after Republic Day: there will be a tour and lecture for students in grades 9, 10, and 11 from all Pridnestrovian schools every Friday. That is, the students arrive, receive information at the museum, then enter the hall, and then an official – the president, the prime minister, the speaker of parliament, members of the Supreme Council, ministers and other officials, heads of state administrationswill deliver a lecture. I'll certainly be involved too: I'll pick an interesting topic and share it with students in a particular class. We'll stabilize a bit, decide on the topics, prepare, and then we'll do it after Republic Day.
In addition, poetry evenings, musical evenings, and so on will be held in this Museum Quarter. This will be handled by the head of the administration, Ilona Petrovna Tyuryaeva. She's a great person, a knowledgeable person; this is her field, she's ready for it, she wants it. She's put a lot of effort into making this Museum Quarter a reality. So, a big thank you to everyone: Ilona Petrovna, the government, and everyone who actively participated in this. This is a worthy cause that will certainly attract the attention of both Pridnestrovian citizens and tourists.
Zinaida Kitskan, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
We've declared the Year of the Pridnestrovian People for two years in a row. Numerous events have been held, and they are naturally continuing. I would like to ask: do you think this is enough to preserve and develop the community of the “Pridnestrovian people”, to understand our cultural code?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
We declared last year and this year the Year of the Pridnestrovian People to place maximum emphasis on holding various events. Incidentally, the law on the genocide of the Pridnestrovian people as part of the Soviet Union is also one of the items on these events. Videos about nations, videos about the Pridnestrovian people – all of this is part of the plan. This must be done constantly; it's our life. One of our state objectives is to strengthen the community of the Pridnestrovian people with respect and the development of languages, culture, and traditions. We are doing this. So, we concentrated our efforts this year and last year, but I'm confident we will continue to do this next year. Nothing will change; the Pridnestrovian people will not change. They are multinational and live in harmony with the rest of the world. I want to note: I see that the cultural code is working. I see that there are fewer cigarette butts, less paper, fewer bottles in the parks. It exists. I see young people striving to obtain additional education: cultural, musical, and athletic. I see that every gym is occupied. I see that every section is filled with children. This is the cultural code, of course. It works. The Pridnestrovian people are highly developed, highly cultured, and highly educated, that's a fact. Just look at our streets: clean, tidy. Yes, we may not wear a fashionable coat—it may be old, but it's ironed, washed, and stain-free, you understand? That's pretty much how the Pridnestrovian people are. The tourists who come to us from Moldova are amazed. They are amazed by our cleanliness, our attitude, person to person. They truly love Pridnestrovie. I talk to many people, including tourists from Moldova. What do they say? They say, "Yes, we come here to visit the cultural sites, but we're coming here like we were in the Moldavian SSR, in the good sense of the word. You understand? We simply enjoy interacting with people. No one steps on our tongues, no one snorts, no one insults us. We enjoy it. We can't be in Chisinau like this". It's not me making this up, people say it that way. That's how it is in that regard.
Olga Marchuk, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, please tell us how the state plans to develop our republic's tourism potential.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR:
Tourism potential is truly very important for the state. It's not just tourism, not just guests, not just money. It's information about Pridnestrovie, first and foremost. Information about Pridnestrovie. I remember 10 years ago, I said, "Let's take a computer and type in Pridnestrovie, the city of Bendery, the city of Tiraspol.' What will we see in the pictures online?" Ten years ago, what did we see? A tank, a parade, 1992, some pillboxes, barbed wire... I said, that this must be changed categorically. In 10 years, when we type in Pridnestrovie on the computer, we should see cultural and historical sites, happy people and children. Of course, a tank and the year 1992 are also necessary, but not only that. If you open a search engine, you'll see that this has happened. This is national development. You'll see our parks, historical sites, the Bendery Fortress, museums, and so on. You'll see children, festivals, and happy people. That's a fact. Of course, there's a strong reaction to this. Our neighbors simply hate it, trying to distort it somehow, to intimidate their citizens so they don't come here. It's not working, and the flow of tourists is actually increasing. Where are they coming from? From Moldova. This year, first place goes to tourists from Moldova, followed by Italy and Poland. There are a lot of tourists. There are other foreign countries, both near and far. This is very good. Take, for example, such a global tourist attraction as the Bendery Fortress. You can hold any event at the Bendery Fortress: religious, concert, festival. You can meet any official there. Naturally, the fortress's impact on tourists reflects their appreciation of Pridnestrovie as a whole. I'm pleased that this is already yielding financial results. This is also very important. For example, the municipal unitary enterprise "Bendery Fortress" is not a private project. They have already become completely self-sufficient. They have a staff of 28 people, and they pay salaries, utilities, and all taxes in full. Well done! This is their result, an achievement, and we should strive for it. Regarding Tiraspol: I also really hope that after the launch of the Museum Quarter, we will also be able to earn enough money to pay salaries, taxes, and maintain the entire complex. The most important result is the recognition of our republic through our cultural sites, our history, and our people. This must be developed, of course.
Dear colleagues, I'd like to say a few words in conclusion. Our republic is 36. The creation of the republic wasn't the will of one person or group. No. It was the will of the people, understanding the need to create Pridnestrovie to protect citizens with the right to speak their own language and live on their own land. I've cited numerous facts, and I could cite more, but I won't – this is the way it is. Today, an independent Pridnestrovie is a guarantee of the preservation of its language, its traditions, its identity, and the entire Pridnestrovian people as such. This is also a fact. I am proud of the Pridnestrovian people: that they are who they are – distinctive – and that they survive in such difficult conditions. If I didn't have confidence in the Pridnestrovian people, I probably wouldn't be President; I wouldn't have taken this difficult path – to be President. I have relied solely on the people and on my colleagues – who are also part of the people for these past 10 years. It will probably remain so in the future. Only the people will decide the fate of our state. This has always been the case, and it will continue to be so. Through referendums, which all our enemies fear so much. Of course, this right to speak our native language, the right to live on our native land, the right to see our children laugh – it is worth a lot. It is worth the suffering for this, perhaps. This is something we must always fight for. Well, fighting is like that: sometimes it can be painful, that's what it is. I am confident in the future of Pridnestrovie and I don't doubt for a second that the Pridnestrovian people will survive, preserving, again, their language, their traditions, their history. We will never bow to the Nazis, the fascists, those monsters who once killed people here. We will never dishonor the memory of our ancestors who defended our Fatherland. This is simply unimaginable in Pridnestrovie. Therefore, the challenges that exist, we will overcome them. Of course, the presidential elections are still far away, in December. I hope our citizens will be conscientious and active. I will speak about this later and explain why it must be so. Just as people come to the Immortal Regiment march, expressing their civic protest against the dominance of information and history, so too should people come to the presidential elections. This is also a kind of civic protest against the propaganda and lies that pour from all sides onto tiny Pridnestrovie. Dear Pridnestrovians, I congratulate you on the upcoming 36th anniversary of the formation of our statehood. I bow low to you and congratulate you on this holiday.