Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Dear journalists, I am glad to meet you. We traditionally hold press conferences on the eve of the day of the formation of our state. Today is just such a day. There are always many questions, because life does not stand still. Questions appear and are updated, there are questions that were relevant a year ago, and two years ago. Do not hesitate, ask about what interests you. This is foreign policy, and the geopolitical situation, and the domestic situation, and social policy – everything that we do, everything that we live by, should definitely enter into issues.
I know the questions of interest in general, of course. I read them among the appeals of citizens that I consider. All questions are known. If a citizen applied, I answer individually. There is an opportunity to speak out to a wide audience and highlight all this in the media today. Therefore, you have the floor, please.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, good afternoon! I would like to start with foreign policy, with the fears of citizens, with the fact that the neighboring state continues to arm itself. Moldova received rifles and other small arms for $4 million only in August, there were other deliveries before that. It is not hidden that this is the help of NATO and other Western states. There are a lot of statements about Pridnestrovie from Moldovan politicians. In particular, "they will join anyway, because we are going to Europe". There is constant armament at the same time. How do you evaluate applications? Why does the Republic of Moldova need so many weapons?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
It is probably wrong to answer this question solely on weapons or on the desire for Europe. There are causal relationships between these events. They have their historical roots, they also have new circumstances. The emerging situation in terms of hostilities in Ukraine: Ukraine is supported by European states. It leaves its mark on today. And we make decisions taking into account the statements of various politicians. This is first of all. Everything else, of course, was, we all know that. Nevertheless, February-March 2022 changed, shook the situation. What was before February 2022, of course, will not be exactly the same today. The world will be different in any scenario, in any development of the situation. Don't even doubt it. Many are guided by this, and so are our neighbors, who say that the issue of a peaceful settlement of the Pridnestrovian conflict will be resolved after the end of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia. They want to deal with this situation themselves.
Of course, our task in this most difficult situation is to keep peace in the Pridnestrovian land, save people, fulfill all our social obligations, save jobs, develop our economy, pay wages, live on, develop.
As for foreign policy, unfortunately I observe the stagnation of the negotiation process today and this is very bad. It has actually been stopped. The 5+2 format is not going to be, I assume, and will not be in the near future. At the same time, all participants in the 5+2 format, except for Pridnestrovie, agree with the wording that while hostilities are going on between Ukraine and Russia, the 5+2 format will not come together. All are unanimous in this vein. With some reservations, but the concept is. In my opinion, if the parties wish, sincerely, I can assume a gathering of the 5 + 2 format, and there are such examples of this, even after the start of hostilities. However, there is no format. There are no 1+1 meetings. The fact that Vitaly Ignatiev, our political representative, met with Oleg Serebryan, their political representative, was not a 1+1 meeting. it is a communication between political representatives. You must understand the format correctly. This is not 1+1. Unfortunately, the meetings of political representatives are more of a ritual nature. It’s just that there is such a ritual: you need to meet once a month, once every three months, call, and discuss something, but there are no solutions. The Moldovan side does not even have carte blanche to make any decisions. They cannot accept. I don’t understand at all who makes decisions on any issues, everything is very complicated. Someone accepts eventually, of course. An example is the famous part of CT scanner for a hospital for the disabled. They kept it for three months. The CT scanner did not work, people experienced inconvenience, they had to go to another hospital three months. This is a hospital for the disabled, veterans, the name itself speaks of who is being treated there. These people were gathered into buses, transported, and so on. Three months for no reason. At the same time, there is a new “Siemens” in the hospital, which was bought two years ago in Europe, the part of CT scanner was changed, this is a natural process, this is normal. No one to talk to. Nobody made any decisions. In the end, there are people who helped, returned this part of CT scanner for a hospital for the disabled. They kept it for three months. The CT scanner did. Thank them. They have nothing to do with political representatives. There are other examples, lots of examples.
What are the representatives actually doing there? They gathered in the government and made a “very important decision” in quotation marks: to name not Pridnestrovie, but “Pridnestrovian region”, and also to spell it with a small letter. This is a breakthrough, I guess. Probably stayed up for two nights discussing how they could win in this situation. After that, they think that the Moldovan people began to live better, more interesting, more prosperous and gas will be free? What is in the minds of these people?
When the issue is about a political settlement or integration, about some special status, it is not the president that needs to be convinced, the people need to be convinced of this. Now, if people want to live with you – no question. We will hold a referendum, let the people speak. I don't need to be convinced. I will not make decisions outside the will of the Pridnestrovian people. What are the Moldovan authorities doing? They infringe on our economic entities, limit payments on bank accounts. These are people, this is not just a legal entity. The supply of medicines, devices and special equipment to Pridnestrovie are limited. They mock at the airport over our Pridnestrovian citizens who serve in various departments. Do they think that because of this, the people will immediately fall in love with Moldovan politicians, will they be proud and admire them? No. I know real stories, I won’t name where and how, when one or another border or customs officer at some crossing detains our politicians, officials and says, “You know, something wrong with ours... You stand here we have no legal claims against you. It's all there". They point up, that's where the order comes from. Then people are kept for two hours, and people drive through. What opinion is formed? You understand. I am far from thinking that the president or the prime minister personally gives such instructions, but someone makes these decisions. All this is contrary to normal human relations. Before you wish for something, you need to do something useful for it. Do not interfere, do not scoff, live together in the end. We are neighbours. It is necessary to live like good neighbors.
As for armaments, armaments of NATO: this process plays for a long time. Even under the presidency of Igor Dodon, these headquarters were created in Chisinau, there were joint Moldovan-Romanian or Moldovan-NATO exercises. Therefore, the supply of weapons is underway. It is understandable in principle. Of course, this does not please us. I have always said that any supply of arms is not the path to peace, it is the path to war. The path to peace is the disarmament of the parties, and the supply of arms is the path to war, if you take a closer look. Naturally, we must think about our safety, worry about it. The topic of terrorist attacks that were committed on the territory of Pridnestrovie and which we prevented (more terrible terrorist attacks in February-March of this year) has subsided in the media somehow. We talked and talked, no one was interested. What you should pay attention to: if someone accused us of falsification, I suggested to everyone, gentlemen, we have detainees, tools and means of committing crimes, a witness base, dozens of examinations. If you think that this is all falsification, there are no questions, come to us. We provide it all to you. You say that it is: falsification, not people, but robots, which it is not clear where they got it, hexogen - this is plasticine stuck into the car ... But there is no such thing, because everyone understands perfectly well that this is true. Therefore, there is no interest. Of course, there is interest, somewhere from above, but there is no desire to understand the materials. Why? Because the results will prove us right. They will say yes, and a terrorist attack was being prepared against the OSCE, a terrorist attack was being prepared against officials of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. This is all confirmed by materials, witnesses, detainees, accused persons who are at the stage of trial. I think that the court will make a final decision on these defendants in September, in early October. That's all. There is silence. No comments yet. I am deeply convinced that there is a taboo on this subject. Why? Everything is very simple. Preparation for the commission of these terrorist acts is a direct Hague Tribunal, ladies and gentlemen. Direct Hague Tribunal. This is political terrorism, which was planned to be committed on the territory of another state against the will of both the leadership of these states and the inhabitants of these states. Even from the point of view of international law, which today is simply trampled on. Why admit it? It's hard. But I still see the desire of the leadership of Moldova - both the president and the prime minister - to keep the peace. Peace in general in the region. I see under all the most difficult circumstances a desire to keep the peace, not forgetting to strangle Pridnestrovie a little at the same time, of course. As it was all these 33 years, so did their predecessors. Nevertheless, there is a desire to keep the peace. This is the basis for a normal dialogue in the format that everyone calls "1 + 1" by the way. I am always ready, I am always ready to meet officials and talk about peace. Let even one issue be on the agenda, although there are a lot of them. If we talk about the negotiation process, Moldova, unfortunately, practically withdrew from the Berlin and Berlin+ protocols. Moldova does not implement a single decision on all signed protocol instructions. In all positions, they gave back and do not fulfill their earlier obligations. What to talk about next? We must trust. To speak, to negotiate, one must trust. There is no trust, that's the point, the people have no trust, first of all. Therefore, it goes something like this in foreign policy.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
I would like to hear your opinion: what should happen for the negotiations to be resumed? Something good or something bad? Who should make the decision to resume the format of communication? Is it some specific person, some kind of embassy, representative office, maybe, I don't know, the Vatican? How should all this happen?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
First, there must be the will of the participants in the 5+2 format. There are main participants, there are observers, there are mediators. This is within their competence. Naturally, we should not oppose - neither Pridnestrovie, nor Moldova. We do not oppose, but there are subtle nuances here, with the help of which you can see why some participants in this format do not want to continue the meeting precisely 5 + 2. The thing is that Pridnestrovie in this format has an equal voice on an equal footing with everyone, equal rights and equal obligations. We are a subject there, a political subject. They call us Pridnestrovie there”, not a region with a small letter, as someone there with an inflamed imagination decided, namely Pridnestrovie, with our political voice. We will simply be deprived, by and large, of a political voice by liquidating this format. If we discard all the emotions and the reference to the hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, then the root cause lies – to deprive Pridnestrovie of a political voice. Everything else is superficial, in order to come up with an “excuse”, excuse me for such slang, when making certain decisions. Literally in January of this year, the “5 + 2” format actually gathered in Istanbul, all its participants gathered in any case. They managed to seat Russia and Ukraine in different offices there, and it took place. That is, at the request of the parties. Someone had to collect, watch, discuss, listen and so on, without making any decisions. It's all possible now. Nevertheless, this desire to turn off Pridnestrovie from the political agenda in terms of decision-making - it exists and it is probably fundamental. Who should give the impetus? Probably those who want to exclude us from this agenda. So they must agree that we are an equal subject, and then the negotiation process will start.
Lyubov Fetisova, “The Gomin” newspaper:
By the Decree of the President, until September 16. Will it be extended further and in connection with what? You talked about a kind of lull in the media...
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Of course, we will extend the yellow code. There is an external factor and an internal factor. The external factor is the fighting on the territory of Ukraine. It is understandable. The internal factor is the danger of committing certain terrorist attacks and acts. We have our own security forces. I receive daily reports that there are individuals in sight who are ready to commit them. Let's just say softly. Therefore, of course, as long as there is danger, this code will be kept. There are no other options. Nobody really feels it. But it implies certain legal regimes in case, God forbid, the commission of this or that terrorist act.
Alexander Lagutin, RIA Novosti:
Vadim Nikolayevich, the contract for the transit of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine is terminated at the end of next year. They say in Moldova that as soon as the transit of Russian gas to Pridnestrovie stops, economic collapse will come here, and Pridnestrovie will be forced to integrate into Moldova. How do you feel about such statements?
I would like to ask, what do you think, will the Moldavian GRES succeed in extending the contract for the supply of electricity to Moldova this autumn?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
As for the contract, negotiations are currently underway to extend the contract for the supply of electricity until the end of the year and even, possibly, for some period of next year. Dnestrovskaya GRES generates high-quality electricity, stable electricity, and Moldova, of course, is interested in this product, especially since the price component is quite convenient for Moldova. This is a mutually beneficial contract for Russia, Moldova and Pridnestrovie. Therefore, I hope for a positive decision.
As for gas, there are millions of factors that can be used to suggest that the gas supply through the territory of Ukraine will be cut off. Of course, even the fighting speaks of this. We have worked out another route for gas supplies to Pridnestrovie. It works, it has already been tested, the volume, the section of the pipe is enough. Many doubted that the pipe section would not work. It fits. Pridnestrovie can receive gas, bypassing Ukraine, directly. I won't explain the details, this is already such a thing. It's not that it's a great secret, it's not a secret, these are just technical points, you don't need it. But there is an access point, and it works. It's enough. Another question is whether the conditions will be preserved, what pricing policy will be, what contract will be between Moldovagaz and Gazprom. These are already negotiations between these subjects of economic relations. We hope for the best. Everyone needs gas, and Moldova as well. Moreover, the Moldavian GRES, that is, our Dnestrovskaya GRES, it runs on this gas and generates electricity for Moldova. Everything is interconnected here.
Of course, I listen to some politicians. They talk about some external factor. Now Moldova will go to Europe and Pridnestrovie will go to Europe. Why they decided that, I don't know. Why did they choose to do so? We still need to ask the people where the people want to go. Maybe people just want to stay here and not go anywhere, or maybe they want to go somewhere. I don't know. The people should be asked in any case. The opinion of the people is decisive. It always has been and always will be. If someone thinks that it is possible to come to an agreement with an individual politician or a group of politicians and resolve the issue, he is mistaken. It is necessary to ask the opinion of the people in any case.
As for gas, electricity, combat operations are going on. This will have an impact on fate. Of course it will. I don't even doubt it. If you listened to me carefully, I spoke somewhere else in 2017-2018, look carefully at history. Why is it important to study history? History is cyclical. What was once, unequivocally a projection will fall on today's day. Times change, but people stay the same. With their emotions, with their heroism, with their meanness. People have always been, are and will be the same. Yes, with a mobile phone, maybe with a laptop or with space. But the people are the same. They make decisions the same way. Pay attention to the territorial transformations of our state, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, Pridnestrovie. If you take it historically, over a number of centuries, here we are talking about the formation of the Pridnestrovian people. It was not modern Pridnestrovie that formed it. It was said, come here, to Novorossia, present-day Pridnestrovie, get land, freedom, mind your own business, entrepreneurship, here you will be free, by and large, from serfdom and so on. People came here, people of different nationalities. Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Jews, Russians, Ukrainians, Moldovans who fled from Bessarabia from the Turkish Port. There they were powerless, but here they received land. All villages along the Dniester line – they have a year of formation precisely in the reign of Catherine II. I have always cited Malaeshty as an example, because they are formed day by day like the city of Tiraspol - in 1792, Protection of the Theotokos. This is how such a multinational people turned out here. The fact that now we have 72 nationalities and nationalities is not something we came up with. It was once Catherine the Great invited people to live here. This is one geopolitical situation.
The next geopolitical situation and the next territorial transformation is the Russian-Turkish war and the conclusion of the Bucharest Peace by Field Marshal Kutuzov, 1812 then. Bessarabia fell off the Russian Empire. The Russian Empire began to develop Bessarabia. Not Moldova, please note. The historical name is Bessarabia. It was the Bessarabian province as part of the Russian Empire. We were even in different provinces - we were in the Kherson province, they were in the Bessarabian province. This is history.
There was next Russian-Turkish war in 1877-78 then. It would seem that this did not directly affect. That's how it seems. Actually it did. Why? Yes, because new states were formed in Europe. Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, other Balkan states that gained their independence. Entire nations were saved thanks to the Russian Empire and Emperor Alexander II. Those states that appeared, they then began to influence, especially Romania, the situation in Southern Europe, and still influence, of course.
What do we have? There was War I, 1914, October Revolution, another territorial transformation. Bessarabia goes to Romania, and the territory of Pridnestrovie goes to Soviet power, to the Soviet Union, the MASSR was formed in 1924, then the next geopolitical situation called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, then the Great Patriotic War, then the collapse of the Soviet Union, territorial division.
I said that the next geopolitical storm will be 100%, I have no doubt about it. When - I do not know, but it is historically determined. The time has come. It is counted by years, look at the time periods and make an unambiguous conclusion that it was about to begin. That's where it started, unfortunately. This is history, these are processes. Who manages these processes – I do not know at all. They absolutely line up, including time.
Of course, neither gas, nor electricity, nor anything taken separately, movement there, movement here, the pipe was taken away, the pipe was given away - this will not affect our future. The end of this geopolitical rift, storm, tragedy will affect - in this tragic situation, all words are acceptable. That's when it's over. That's when everything will be clear. There will be no such states that were before the beginning. Everything will be different, in my opinion. This will affect us, of course, I have no doubt about it. Pay attention to how many historical examples I have given you on all these geopolitical fault lines, but one thing remains unchanged - the Pridnestrovian people, who have always lived here and will continue to live here from the time of Catherine the Great to the present day. These were not empty words - "It does not matter where we are, it is important who we are". Who are we? We are the Pridnestrovian people. Multinational, with its own history, with its own languages, traditions and culture. This is something we can't take away, it can't be taken away. A man is born with it, he dies with it. That's all. Something like that.
Alexander Karasev, "The Pridnestrovie" newspaper
Is the issue of neutral vehicle plate numbers being resolved?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Yes, Alexander Borisovich, there were agreements when the points started working, protocol decisions signed in 2018, in my opinion, in May. The points began to work. Further, I unequivocally lay all the blame on the actions of the Moldovan authorities. What is the point. A year and a half ago, we brought license plates – blanks for both neutral license plates and Pridnestrovian license plates. These license plates were seized for completely far-fetched reasons of the Moldovan customs. At the same time, we always delivered them to Pridnestrovie along the same route, there were never any problems. Problems appeared suddenly: the license plates were seized. We cannot stamp them on paper, on cardboard. We started talking: on what basis? There was no reason really. All codes match, we previously supplied these license plates. Then they gave blanks for neutral signs, they didn’t give them for Pridnestrovian ones. We can't extradite neutral license plates without Pridnestrovian ones either. Why? Because according to the protocol on the issuance of a neutral license plate, it is initially necessary to issue a Pridnestrovian license plate, and then change it to a neutral license plate. This technology was signed by the Moldovan side.
We don't give up. We file a lawsuit with the Kausani court, we win one court case, we win the second court case. The Moldovan side appeals against these decisions in the cassation procedure and does not come to court. We have won two cases. The third, in theory, should be final, but the Moldovan side simply does not appear at the court hearings, and there is no decision. Well, what can you call it? There is no doubt that the courts there are absolutely dependent. There are many other examples that are more tragic from the point of view of a person's fate. But the fact that they are fully manageable is a fact. Not only is it impossible to go to Europe with such courts, it is impossible to look in its direction from the point of view of the freedom of courts, judicial decisions and the independence of judges as such. We won the courts, return the signs to us. We also won court cases with our coins, which were also confiscated (Pridnestrovian silver coins). We won the courts, they simply do not return anything to us. Non-execution of a court decision is a criminal offense in Pridnestrovie, a serious crime. Everything is fine there, you think.
This is one such moment. Naturally, after these actions, the work of the vehicle registration points was suspended as such. Well, we decided to resume - on our own initiative, on our initiative. We started negotiations, then it turns out that Moldova simply did not extend its legislative decisions regarding the continuation of the work of this item. We are ready even tomorrow, please, and Moldova needs to take its legislative decisions in accordance with this protocol firstly, secondly to return license plates. Everything will be fine. This is again the same factor as the stagnation of the negotiation process, and the failure to make decisions, and the failure to implement previously achieved ones. It's all from there, Alexander Borisovich.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs some representatives of Pridnestrovie have already been put on the wanted list under the law on separatism in continuation of the topic of Moldova's pressure on Pridnestrovie, is it known who they are? Will there be any response from our side?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
As for the law on separatism, it is flawed, short-sighted, and apart from the escalation of the conflict, it will not be able to generate anything else. If Moldova protects itself from terrorists, saboteurs, there is a Criminal Code for this. Please, anyone can be involved if someone encroaches on safety, life, health, state security. Moldovan legislators singled out a separate subject – a separatist. By the way, everyone gets there: both citizens of Moldova living in Moldova, and Pridnestrovians, and citizens of other states. The law was not even drawn up by a lawyer, probably. A lawyer couldn't write like that. The politician wrote, who perhaps received a law degree somewhere, standing in line for a diploma for 5 years, but not a lawyer. Of course, it is possible to threaten its application to any person with the help of this law. Whom the cases were initiated against – we partially know, partially we do not know. This is classified information, and we can only find out in this way – something will slip somewhere, and then, this is so, the truth is not true, no one understands. Nevertheless, I say again: any person can be attracted under this law on separatism.
Counter-move? Well, of course they will. In the event of the detention of at least one citizen of the PMR, regardless of his official status, retaliatory measures will be taken by Pridnestrovie. Don't even doubt it. I communicate, of course, with the Moldovan leaders at one level or another, I try to explain this. There was already a bad example – Samonius. You don't have to go there, it will end badly. You get nabbed, and we get nabbed, well, this is not good, and there will be no positive from this in our relations. They have not yet directly applied this law to Pridnestrovians, I can honestly say, but, nevertheless, there is a danger. We will watch. The fact that we will protect our citizens, do not doubt it.
Lyudmila Soltan, “The Adevarul Nistryan”” newspaper:
The past year was very difficult for the Pridnestrovian economy due to external factors. Have we managed to overcome it? Will it be possible to overcome these difficulties in the future?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Yes, unfortunately, external factors influence. I am not a fan of making references to external factors in general, but now it is so objective that it is stupid not to talk about it. Stopping our businesses, banning exports, blocking our banking operations. Of course, this negatively affects the revenue side of the budget. We are holding on, fulfilling all social obligations today. We plan to fulfill our social obligations in the future as well. When drawing up the budget for 2024, unfortunately, let’s say that the Capital Investment Fund, no matter how much we want to, we will sequester a certain amount. Other development programs may not only be suspended, but reduced. We will talk about this later, there are no other options. I say again, in this terrible time for the world as a whole, not only for us, because we are only part of the world, our task is to preserve peace, preserve the economy, existing payments, not raise rents for people, support our business, make advances for people who is in business. It will be visible then. Well, of course, there is a direct influence, it's true. Unfortunately, this is used, I will say frankly, by our enemies. They disperse these topics, saying that everything will end. No, nothing will end tomorrow, I give you a guarantee. Let the enemies take their time with their conclusions. The fact that the impact is negative today is true.
Dmitry Matveev, the Supreme Council:
Taking into consideration the extremely negative trends in the development of diplomatic relations between Moldova and Russia, we found ourselves in a difficult situation related to the consular service of our citizens. What are the prospects for improving the situation and solving the problems that have arisen in this area?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
The issue is very relevant for us. More than 200000 Russian citizens live in Pridnestrovie, who need constant, let's say, documentary registration. People are born, passports expire, people die, and so on. All these civil legal actions must be performed for Russian citizens, of course, in the field consulate of the Russian Federation for servicing citizens who have Russian citizenship in Pridnestrovie. Of course, the expulsion of more than 40 Russian diplomats will have an impact. I met with Oleg Vladimirovich Vasnetsov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation, and I said that in no case should the format of this item be changed, of course. I am already silent about the improvement, there is no time for improvements, here, as it were, to save.
Of course, these are relations between Moldova and the Russian Federation, which are developing in a very negative plane. It doesn't make me happy either, of course. These are all participants of the 5+2 format. There must be some kind of consensus between them, and when there is an expulsion of diplomats, some reciprocal, retaliatory actions, this does not bode well. We will fight to save.
Alexander Lagutin, RIA Novosti:
Vadim Nikolayevich, opposition leader Oleg Khorzhan was murdered in the summer. We know that Pridnestrovie turned to Moldova for help in investigating this case. Is there any response from Moldova, are there any joint activities, is there anything new from the investigation? Thank you.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Well, the secrecy of the investigation is not a question for the President, but a question for the Investigative Committee. As far as they are competent and lawful to give data, they will give it. The investigation is underway, of course. This crime has no political subtexts. This is direct banditry, robbery, murder, of course. I hope this crime is solved. Of course, such crimes are not revealed immediately. The criminals, I give you a guarantee, are not on the territory of Pridnestrovie. I am interested, as the President, in solving this crime in order to once again show the absence of political motivation when it is revealed. We offered our Moldovan colleagues, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Moldova to get acquainted with the materials, get copies of them, examine the scene, which they did. We also gave them copies of materials related to the inspection of the scene, with the seizure of material evidence, traces from the scene, and so on. The question is the following: detain suspected persons not a question, send them to court and hold them accountable. We'll delay, we'll make it. Criminals - they have no nationality, no borders, not to mention other elements - conscience, honor, and so on. These are the criminals who committed this atrocity. Therefore, of course, I am interested in disclosure, the investigation is underway, I hope for a positive result.
Alla Ivanchenko, RIA Novosti Pridnestrovya:
Another topic under discussion is the closure of the 5 Pockets stores. At what stage is the investigation? Is it possible to open stores?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Let's start with the fact that everyone in the state must pay taxes. You probably agree with this? Moreover, we do not have "draconian" taxes, as far as trade is concerned. We will talk about this later - about 3% income tax. Remember how many opinions last year, claims that “Don't! That's a lot - 3%!". Well, excuse me, all our state employees pay 13-15% of their income. And you, respected entrepreneurs who trade in chemicals, foodstuffs, things or building materials… Some were very indignant that 3% is a lot, and we don’t need and so on. You find a state where they pay less. And even today, when we evaluate the result of the introduced tax according to a simplified scheme, i.e. 3% of income, we see that the budget received about 30 million rubles. This is a normal indicator, but many hide.
You probably buy goods yourself, and you don’t always get a check. Each absence of check is a minus in the budget income. Those kopecks that are in this check, they should go to the budget. If the check is not knocked out, we lose our revenue. In addition to all that external factor, there is also an internal factor - this is the honesty of entrepreneurship, the honesty of the entrepreneur. How can you, hiding your income and not paying taxes, look into the eyes of a teacher, a kindergarten teacher, a doctor, a pensioner, your parents who receive a pension. Your children go to kindergarten and school. You hide from them, you take money from them. In fact, that's what it's called. Therefore, of course, checks will go on and will be continued. As a result of these verification measures, the fact of hiding taxes and incomes by the 5 pockets network was revealed. These two legal entities have been warned more than once, and by the criminal authorities, that this cannot be done. For example, when the taxman stood at the cash register (there were such events in some stores), the revenue increased exactly twice. The investigation has proved that during the sale now, these enterprises hid the proceeds twice. 50% went blind from 100% implementation. In addition, salaries were paid in envelopes. This is also minus the Unified Social Tax, of course, and so on. You can't do that. Turnovers are crazy. Multi-million turnover. The whole intent is aimed at how to steal from the state. Why do this? The government has given you money. Work, get, earn, live honestly. Income is hidden, tax is hidden, personal tax is hidden. The implementation is hidden. I'm not talking about the fact that they did not trade as a legal entity, they divided all their stores according to patents at 3%, and each traded as if individually, collecting money and giving it to the owner. It doesn't do the same. Imagine, the Sheriff company: each department will divide a hypermarket or a supermarket into an entrepreneur of its internal 3% income tax. Well, how can you imagine it? People work honestly: they pay taxes, as it should be from a legal entity, like the rest of the stores of the Fialt-Agro, Blagoda, and Meat-processing plant chains. Here is a total concealment for tens of millions of rubles. The investigation is underway. The amounts will increase: this is a technical process, this is a documentary revision, etc. Some people have been arrested - measures of restraint have been chosen. Some are not arrested. There are people who write petitions, they say, let's change the preventive measure. Return the money to the state. What do you write petitions? You return the money to the state and please go free. So you probably felt good, since you write such letters? The state was bad. It can not be so.
Entrepreneurship is an agreement between a specific person (in the form of an individual or legal entity) and the state. The state creates certain conditions, including legislative ones. You trade, earn income, pay taxes on your side. Everything is simple. You can't do that when someone starts to deceive someone. The state should not deceive. I do not doubt it either, but you must not deceive, dear gentlemen.
You know my requirement. When I hold collegiums in the Arbitration Court, in the Supreme Court, courts of general jurisdiction, I always say: any conflict of law should be resolved in favor of a person. A conflict is an imperfection of the legislation. The decision is only in favor of a person. That's what legislators are for, in order to correct that conflict, to see it and, of course, to create smooth and transparent relations. The mechanism is flexible. It must work constantly. When the mechanism is already there, and when even these 3% are hidden. Well, excuse me. You can't do that. This is not fair to the state, to people who receive pensions and salaries (I mean public sector employees). It will not be like before - when construction organizations, and all the equipment on the patent, bulldozers on the patent, some asphalt pavers on the patent, everything is on the patent. 20-30 USD is paid for a patent per month, and the excavator works there all year round, and the state receives nothing. There is no such thing anywhere. We won't. Everything, the legal entity works - no question. Everything is on the balance sheet of the legal entity. Pay depreciation, pay your net salary and move on. We give work. Therefore, these things must be clearly seen and known to correspond to the decent businessman. The dishonest will suffer.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
Continuing the theme of "5 pockets", there were already examples, a similar situation: they paid taxes, penalties, and were released with a clear conscience.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
According to the current legislation, if the guilty person fully pays the entire amount of hidden tax plus a fine at the pre-trial stage, then this person can be exempted from criminal liability. Only this way, that's why I said, pay, and then let the investigator make decisions.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
Vadim Nikolayevich, one more question. Moldovan politicians very often say, “We want to tighten the screws on Pridnestrovie so that the Pridnestrovian regime is not very well off. Well, quite recently it became known that our enterprises again pay some additional fees. It was even considered that this was a loss of about 3 million dollars a year. These are losses for pensioners, salaries of state employees, roads. We have quite a lot under construction in Pridnestrovie now: university building, an observatory, museums, etc. are being opened. What will you say?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
We have already dealt with this in principle. This formula is “to make worse for your neighbor” – not for the state, but for the people of this state. That is, decisions are made there, you know, like in some small office, by people who have blinkers on their eyes, and they see nothing beyond anger. These people, due to their mental development, probably cannot to see what will happen next in the future. Therefore, all this has a negative impact on relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. Of course, everything falls on people in the end. I talk about it all the time. If they think that they will make things worse for the president, legal entities, some entrepreneurs - this is not true, it will make things worse for the people as a whole, because the people will feel it all, unfortunately.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
The Capital Investment Fund is doing quite a lot this year, it did last year, despite the complexity of the situation. What will happen next?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
We will continue to work, as we are working today. We are not talking about liquidating the Capital Investment Fund. In general, there was an idea to allocate up to two percent of GDP. 2% of GDP is not much for those facilities that need to be repaired. Based on the current situation, we will sequester even those two percent if necessary. Not two, one and a half will be. Most likely so. Of course there will be a fund. If we talk about the Capital Investment Fund, it is difficult for me to imagine the republic without the work of this fund, without its results to date. We have built and repaired about six hundred facilities over the entire period of the Capital Investment Fund. These are more than seventy schools, more than sixty kindergartens, dozens of cultural facilities, public places, sports grounds, stadiums, cultural centers, medical facilities, and so on.
We must see the most important direction for today. Before September 1, I listened to what the Minister of Education was saying, what are the pain points in schools. This is a gym where you need to do physical education, this is a fire alarm, this is a food unit, these are bathrooms. Not to mention roofing, window frames, coverings, that is, school renovations. Everyone is talking about the need for renovation.
If we conduct surveys of people, everyone wants development. Everyone wants to see development, they want to see construction sites, landscaping, and so on. We are focused on this. We worked last year not to the extent that we are working this year, maybe less, maybe more. It all depends on how the situation develops. You can't stop. Take yourself back five or six years. There are no parks, no sports facilities, no renovated schools, no normal sidewalks, roads, hospitals, emergency departments. Do you want it? I guess no. This must be done at the expense of the budget. There are no other options. This must be done by hand, it is necessary for the state to work and control. It's a big mechanism, what we're doing.
As for burning objects today, these are moving objects. That is, all objects that are being built, they must be completed this time. The second point is, of course, health care. This includes the Republican Clinical Hospital, where all facilities, departments located within this perimeter, as well as medical institutions in other cities and regions should be repaired. This is the Pridnestrovian State University. We started, of course, we must finish it. I was embarrassed. I am the founder of PSU by law as the President. When you enter, everything was shabby, the bathrooms simply didn’t work, there were no bathrooms in building “A”, in building “B” they were constantly closed, because there were emergency ones. Well, you can't do the same. How about the people who work and study there? The picture is different now, of course. Building "A" was repaired, building "B" will be opened, we will open a new Quantum center. This is the next step in the intellectual development of our students, teachers, and schoolchildren in grades 10 and 11 will have to arrange excursions to show how the new science works. Then we must do. We also have building "B", and the Faculty of Economics, and the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, building "G", we must bring the campus to perfection. We will do this next year. Our other lyceums, technical schools, which train specialists, are in need of repair. Who will do it if not us? Nobody will do anything for us. What we do is what we have left. Nobody has a magic wand, unfortunately. All the hard work, sweat and blood. There used to be money too, but why didn't they do it? There was more money, more opportunities in the state, but they did not see, did not understand, did not know. This is wrong. I don't want to judge anyone in any way. I have to work. Do not condemn, but work, move forward. Of course, I am an ardent supporter of the preservation of the Capital Investment Fund, but I am friends with common sense, of course, I understand that everything is within the reasonable and within the limits of the possible.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, I would like to focus on the topic of medicine. It is clear that enough changes have taken place during this time. Those who regularly encounter this can especially appreciate it. These are repairs, and the appearance of medicine is completely different, and new equipment. The fact that we have joint replacement surgeries is a real miracle. We do not have heart operations, stenting, but at least people are operated. When, finally, our medical dream will come true - when both patients are satisfied, and doctors feel really needed and receive a decent salary?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Dear journalists, medicine is criticized everywhere in general. The media criticize medicine even in the most developed countries. Somewhere objectively, somewhere subjective. We have criticism of medicine, of course. Somewhere subjective, somewhere objective, absolutely like everywhere else.
Medicine absorbs about 5% of GDP in our country. This is a large amount in terms of investment. This is without the Capital Investment Fund, this is the budget for the development of medicine. There are complaints. There are not enough point doctors, especially in pediatric medicine. We know all this very well, we are working in this direction, we are teaching. Now the residents have graduated, joined the ranks of pediatricians as well. God forbid, the situation will level out, people will gain a foothold in their jobs.
All medicine is divided into areas that simply need to be implemented. The first direction is repair. These are repair and construction. It's clear. It is necessary to put in order the workplace of a doctor, a nurse, any doctor, an administrator, so that it is convenient to work and receive a sick person. This is one of the directions. The second direction is the proper filling of the necessary equipment, necessary equipment, tools. Of course, food for patients in hospitals. The third direction is training, retraining of doctors and wages. There are three big areas.
If we talk about healthcare in general, if we sum it all up, then, probably, you can’t explain it, and no one will understand. Therefore, I will start in the directions so that they understand what is being done.
As for the repair and construction of healthcare facilities, we have repaired and built 72 facilities under the Capital Investment Fund to date. This is rural medicine, this is urban medicine. This is a lot, I assure you, but there is still room for improvement. We work, of course. We have a Development Strategy for our state. It is calculated until the end of 2026. We must repair healthcare facilities to the maximum, bring them into proper condition during this period of time with the work of the Capital Investment Fund (even in a truncated mode, there is nothing terrible in this). Not only should it be convenient for the patient, it should be convenient for the medical staff to work in certain conditions.
As for the allocation of funds for the technical component - for medical equipment, tools, and so on, funds are also allocated according to the budget. The technology is being updated. Basically, we try to keep up with the times. Where we do not have time, we cover differently - this is treatment abroad. It is necessary not just to buy equipment, install it and look at it. We need to train the staff. Any equipment is, first of all, the doctor's hands, his head, therefore, here it is necessary to talk about improving the qualifications of doctors and their ability to work on this or that equipment. It all has to go together. This is the c of the Ministry of Healthcare.
As for nutrition, there are no nutritional critics, thank God. We have improved nutrition many times over recently, and everyone who is in a hospital bed in an inpatient unit receives decent, normal nutrition. Of course, this is a corresponding burden on the budget. It exists, but we did it so that a sick person would not feel deprived of basic food.
In addition, we have budgetary state programs and state target programs. There are six of them. There are an oncology program among them, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular diseases, hepatitis B and C. Large amounts of money are allocated for this. A sick person can receive help from budget funds.
There is also the concept of emergency assistance. This is the assistance that is not provided in Pridnestrovie, and we pay for its provision outside our state. 35 million rubles were allocated for treatment outside our state in 2022. In my opinion, 5 or 6 million rubles were allocated for treatment abroad in 2016 for comparison. This is emergency assistance of any kind. Specifically, these are oncological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, including stenting. Last year, we sent more than a thousand people for treatment outside our state. There is more than a thousand. This is all paid for by the budget. In my opinion, three and a half thousand people received health care outside our state in total over the past five years. These are mainly surgical interventions. If we take stenting for example, if the operation is not performed, the person loses either his life or at least his health, that is he becomes disabled. Yes, we carry out these operations in Chisinau, in the appropriate clinics, thank them very much for this. We have a contractual relationship, we deliver people there, following certain protocols. Not a single person who was transported by air ambulance to Chisinau died. Last year, more than 400 people underwent stenting. Over the period of this year - more than 250 to date. These are really big numbers.
For example, the issue of replacing hip and knee joints is acute in addition. Last year, we performed 220 hip replacement surgeries outside the republic, and sixty in our country. There is a queue. The waiting list is more than 700 people who need hip replacement, more than 160 of which need replacement of two hip joints today. We will continue to provide operational assistance both outside the state and in Pridnestrovie depending on funding. As for the knee joint there is the same thing. The queue is over 700 people. There is a certain priority here from the point of view of budget financing, these include disabled people - the defenders of Pridnestrovie. As you correctly noted, we are already providing this assistance in Pridnestrovie, and we will continue to develop these areas – replacement of both the hip and knee joints. There is a lot of other assistance that the state provides to people. We see it, but it's a lot of money. There is nowhere to get them - only from the budget. This is from the taxes that someone hides, please notice too.
As for salaries, we must provide our health workers, all with decent financial incentives, of course. That is, wages. I held more than one meeting last year. Some of you were even present when I gathered all the chief doctors and proposed various options, pilot projects to consider, transition to one form, to another form. I was always on the lookout, realizing that it was impossible to simply take money from the budget and increase wages by 50%. This year we raised it by 7%, by 10% in various categories, but this is not enough. I suggested last year that someone should try a pilot project. What does the pilot project involve? This is a reduction in bed space somewhere, this is a reduction in staffing positions that are no longer needed from the volume of our population. By and large, each health worker should be designed for a conditional thousand of the population, that is, somewhere they need to be cut back. I looked at the chief doctors and expected a counter-reaction from them. We must try it. This is a theory, maybe it won’t work out, maybe it’s impossible. You have to try. Only one chief doctor responded to the call. This is the chief physician of the Republican Clinical Hospital, Igor Mikhailovich Tostanovsky. He says, "Let's try."
This reform has been carried out in the Republican Clinical Hospital, our Tiraspol clinical hospital. As a result, we significantly increased wages for all medical staff - from 50 to 100%. This is the fate of all our hospitals and the vector that we will definitely master. Why Republican Clinical Hospital, because the head doctor volunteered to try. The others wanted to watch. He tried it and it worked. I recommend it to everyone else. I have already instructed the Ministry of Health to evaluate all medical institutions in our state when transferring to this pilot project and from there we will look, based on our capabilities. This is probably one of the best ways to increase wages.
Dmitry Matveev, the Supreme Council:
Vadim Nikolaevich, to another important project that was launched 8 months ago - a new tax system, taxation for our business, entrepreneurs. They have been working in these conditions for 8 months. Is it possible to draw any definite conclusions about whether these changes managed to achieve what was expected from them, and whether they succeeded in stimulating entrepreneurs?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
We have already received about 30 million rubles in additional funds into the budget over the past period of this year. We have probably brought a certain part of entrepreneurs out of the shadows. Today we have 23 thousand registered entrepreneurs who work under a simplified system and under a patent, all together, which is about 1.5 thousand more than last year. I doubt these people haven't worked before. I think that they have simply been brought out of the shadows, because, in principle, it is profitable not to hide now, but to pay taxes and quietly engage in entrepreneurial activity. Therefore, there is already a plus - that a certain business has been brought out of the shadows. The second is that this is an open tax, honest and transparent. We received additional funds into the budget. That's three. Although there are many paths to perfection and, of course, I told the tax inspectorate, and deputies of the Supreme Council, and city deputies that, of course, there will be conflicts. If there is a conflict, it must be corrected. There were certain recommendations from the business community, and we promptly responded legislatively during the implementation of this law. The Supreme Council clarified this law and adjusted it to make it convenient to use. The law is not the Bible, it can be changed. Nobody can change the Bible, but the law is welcome, the main thing is that it is convenient for people. I always advise the state authorities, the deputies of the Supreme Council, to have close contact with those people who work, who bring added value - entrepreneurs, roughly speaking, to help them legislatively, which is what we are doing. There are different cases. That's life. Everyone tends to make mistakes, even when adopting this or that law. This needs to be corrected quickly, instantly. I am always on the spot, listening to people, always considering applications, and the deputies of the Supreme Council are also at their workplace, and the Government. We are all in dialogue, so we see, hear, and, of course, correct everything, but there are advantages. I have already outlined it.
Svetlana Enaki, Trade Unions of Pridnestrovie newspaper:
Dear Vadim Nikolaevich, a question was raised from the healthcare industry, I would like to raise the issue of education. You gave an instruction in the course of one of the last working meetings to transfer Pridnestrovian high school students to a five-day period. What is the reason for this decision, will high school students have time to master the school curriculum in a five-day academic week, will this affect the quality of education and academic performance?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Everyone has children, grandchildren, everyone goes to school. You perfectly know the level of workload, the level of education. Presumptuously, I did not give the command to "transfer to the five-day period. It's not entirely within my purview. Naturally, I announced this decision, I held consultations with those who understand this and work in this, including the Minister of Education, I assure you. There is a practice in Moldova, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, where many schools are on a five-day basis. Someone is on a six-day period, but many are on a five-day period, and everything somehow works out for them. In addition, we had our own experience, the experience of a pandemic, when I made such a decision, but there were other circumstances for transferring to a five-day period. And what happened? What, people became illiterate, did not receive full knowledge? There were even more gold and silver medals. That is nothing. But the children got an extra day off. For me, as a President, as a father who brings up three children and two grandchildren, the health of children is important in general. We must learn with you constantly, all our lives. To finish school, this or that educational institution, get a job, get additional education, constantly improve. Personally, I am constantly learning. Not in educational institution, of course. There is a lot of literature, a lot of opportunities, Internet resources. I am constantly developing on various topics in order to speak, understand, think, and respond correctly. The head must constantly work. Our task is not to stuff knowledge into a child under 18 years of age, he will still continue to study, but to preserve his health and psychological state. Give him the opportunity to additionally engage in his development in sports, culture, art. In addition to the five-day period, the sixth day is provided, on Saturday there are electives, but electives are exclusively in physical culture, the history of the native land with excursions. No exact sciences. Let the children rest, relax in their society, visit our Pridnestrovie. There are places to go. I'm sure not everyone visited the fortress, Catherine's Park, because the days are full of lessons, including the sixth day. It is not right.
In addition, there is alarming information that many children, when they enter school, are registered with a neuropathologist and psychiatrist because of the workload. Where is this from anyway? I understand that there are some moments, but this should be ruled out altogether. I instructed the Minister of Health to analyze the situation. If there is a concentration of such examples in one or another school, they will deal with the school, how lessons are given there and by whom. You can't do that. It is necessary to preserve the child, his physical and psychological state, to give him the opportunity to develop further.
Moreover, I instructed all Department of Public Education leaders to carefully check the schedule of subjects. There are options that the child only today finds out his schedule for tomorrow. It is necessary that at least a quarter of the child knows his schedule, can plan his time, can develop further, devote time to himself and friends. These are all elementary things. I will say more that teachers are also unloading. They have a Saturday, they can devote time to themselves, family, preparation.
I am satisfied with the quality of complete secondary education, that is, with our schools. I am completely satisfied. Of course, there are nuances, including salary. I'm talking about the quality of a product called education. Thank you, low bow to our teachers for teaching our children. I have said it and will continue to say it. Therefore, when someone wants to reform something, I always stop these people. As for reformations, there are many examples outside of Pridnestrovie, how it ended. The formation of numbers, artificial intelligence, transfer to some kind of remote location, transfer to some kind of tablets, to digital - it's all detrimental, it seems to me, for the development of a person, for the development of an individual in the end. We should not raise a robot or a person who consumes everything, we must raise an intellectual person to develop intelligence in every boy, in every girl. This is right. So this is the solution. It resonated, I have no doubt about it. We did not make cuts, but when talking with friends, with teachers, I see that there are responses that this is right. Five days is enough to teach a child. The whole life is ahead. Health can be lost in childhood, then all the psychological adventures of an adult, this is all from childhood. Do you understand? It's all from childhood. If a person behaves strangely as an adult, dig into his childhood, and you will find the answer to your question. We must strive to keep the young man.
In general, since we touched on the topic of schools, let's talk about youth. What is being done for the youth, what kind of youth do we have? This is important topic for me. I'll tell you this. Of course, everything has been done in Pridnestrovie to ensure that a young person is formed, that is, he reaches the age of eighteen and receives everything he needs, if he has a desire. Kindergartens are affordable, normal, free for many, subsidized, and so on. Complete secondary education is level, competitive with any states of at least the post-Soviet space. There is additional education in sports, art, culture, music education. Much of the above mentioned is free. The society itself is children's, youthful good. People strive to be better in Pridnestrovie. Give up bad habits, go in for sports. Look, all the sports facilities that have been completed today, they are filled until 12 at night, before the start of the first one. Constantly queues to play on a particular sports ground. This is for the information of those who say that young people today are not the same as children sitting at tablets. What did you do to make them put down their tablets and go outside? What have you done for this? We repair sports bases, renew equipment, make sports grounds, football grounds. Children will go, they need it. Persons develops. When they reach the age of eighteen, what to do next? Here he comes. Of course, many come outside our state. Nevertheless, I want to point out once again that it is also possible to get a good complete higher education here. For example, Pridnestrovian State University. What was the previous criticism? Shabby, miserable. Everything is being repaired and being done, the campus is also being repaired and being done, the stadium nearby is being repaired and being done. That’s fine. What about diplomas? We have begun issuing Russian-style diplomas since this year. That is, a graduate of the Pridnestrovian State University actually receives a Russian diploma. We are also improving the material base. Please study. I am a graduate of the Pridnestrovian State University, I received a second education - a law degree. I'll tell you, if you want, you can take everything, absolutely everything. High level teachers are not only at the Faculty of Law, but everywhere, at any faculty. I have already spoken about this: all the design bureaus, heads of workshops, foremen of the Elektromash plant are practically all graduates of the engineering faculty of our state university. And all other areas of our national economy are also filled with graduates. Please study. If you make a choice and leave the republic, I do not criticize this in any way. This is the choice of both parents and young people. Many are returning. There are good examples of return and work here, and in principle everything is going harmoniously. I would very much like that those of our graduates who graduate from higher educational institutions in Moscow do not sell telephones on the “backbone”, do you understand? So that they shape themselves, grow in terms of intelligence.
Speaking about young people, one can remember about patriotic education, about certain values that clearly work in Pridnestrovie. This also needs to be talked about. Therefore, I am generally satisfied with our youth, I am proud of them. Good youth. The guys are all good, the girls are all good. They strive to live better. This is correct, absolutely normal. You have to start somewhere, that's a fact. There is no need to immediately chase millions, it is important to get a job, and then everything will work out. Something like that. Please remember your homeland, remember Pridnestrovie, do not forget, wherever you are.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolayevich, the issue of mobile communications in Pridnestrovie. We switched to the LTE format. CDMA is a thing of the past. It was a touching farewell to it. It is clear that technologies are developing, we need to move forward, but, let's say, the social factor here was significant in that pensioners had to buy phones (not always good ones), there were a lot of complaints. Many complained about the lack of information about the transition to this connection. How would you rate this very big, significant event for Pridnestrovie, which affected, in principle, everyone?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
In general, when it comes to communication, nothing stands still. Remember, when communications appeared in the 2000s, the first mobile phones appeared. You don't go around with that mobile phone that you once bought - 20 years ago. That is, you even change mobile phones. This is a normal process, right. The communication standard is also, let's say, improved. CDMA was a progressive type and communication standard that was convenient for us, Pridnestrovians once in those zero years. Time goes on, and, unfortunately, something dies. This standard is dying out all over the world. That is, the factories that once produced stations for the CDMA standard, they no longer produce them, there is no technical update, and that's it. This is, let's say, the destruction of the connection. I am very glad that the owners of Interdnestrcom saw this in time, felt it in time, realized it in time, predicted it and switched to the new LTE communication format. There were no other options. If this had not happened, today Pridnestrovie would have remained without communication. There would be no communication in Pridnestrovie. It was a necessity. This is the first moment. The second point: there are no questions to the technical performance. First, these are large financial resources. You understand: all the stations had to be changed, all the stations that are on the towers, below - all this has been completely replaced. CDMA and LTE standards are different standards, the equipment is different. It must be purchased, delivered (with all the problems), installed. There are no technical issues for execution. What there are questions about, it's about management, about explaining the elementary. That's what I just said, how much did I meet? In two minutes. Everything is clear. This is how it was necessary to explain to people in advance: that, dear citizens of Pridnestrovie, the CDMA standard has gone, say, to another world. We have a new standard, we have spent a lot of money, we have installed new stations, we are switching to a new format. You need to purchase mobile terminals of the appropriate type, which will pull this standard, of course, but this was not done, unfortunately. A lot of questions appeared, and they wrote to me as the President: why? The President begins to explain why and so on. Well, that's wrong. Therefore, of course, any organization, this even applies to Interdnestrkom, must deal not only with technical implementation and financing, but also with explanation. We need to explain to people why this is happening. It's all simple. I say it again: as for the owners of the Interdnestrcom company and technical specialists, I only thank them, because it was necessary to see, feel, organize and execute it in time. The explanation is I think the whole thing will get better. People understand, in principle.
Igor Avrenev, TSV:
Vadim Nikolayevich, Republic Day is ahead, you will make many speeches, congratulations on this holiday as the first person of the state, but you will surely gather at home with your family, children, grandchildren. What will you tell them on this day, on this holiday?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
You know, I will not say anything new, more than what I said the day before or a week or later. For me, the 2nd of September is a big event, but by and large it does not make adjustments to the upbringing or presentation of information to my children or my grandchildren. I always talk about Pridnestrovie, I always say what Pridnestrovie is, I explain, answer questions, and now I just, probably, congratulate you. Congratulations on the day of the formation of our state.
Alexander Karasev, "The Pridnestrovie" newspaper:
Vadim Nikolayevich, people are concerned about this issue on the eve of winter. How much will we be provided with food. The views of the harvest are not bad, but this heat and the changing climate still bother people in this regard.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
The heat is breaking records this year, of course. In general, to be honest, I don’t remember such a late August - early September, with such temperatures. The yields are generally good, they managed to collect, as they say. The grain group is not bad, and the vegetable group is not bad. In general, as I said earlier, we must strive for product independence, self-sufficiency. I always did not understand those people and said that they were absolutely wrong, who said that we can buy everything, that we have industrial enterprises and we will buy everything. Such a flawed attitude towards our agriculture led to the fact that 7-8 years ago, our production did not even cover our needs by 20-30%. You can buy, but there are situations in the world, for example, when you cannot buy and there will be nothing to buy for. We need to develop our land, which we are doing. The end product is the result: the amount of cereals, the amount of vegetables and the amount of milk, meat products, etc. Before that, there is a huge work of the state, agricultural entrepreneurs, a person who works specifically on the land. It is impossible without the support of the state to imagine the normal development of an agricultural producer. there are nuances everywhere. As for support. if we talk about the most important element of support, this is concessional lending, this is 5% per annum. The rest of the rate is paid by the state - 6%, i.е. the rate is 11-12% in fact, as the bank gives. The entrepreneur receives a loan at 5%, the rest of the rate is paid by the state. These are large financial resources that we include in the budget. This is helping entrepreneurs. Everything that is being done at the present time – the purchase of equipment, the planting of new orchards, namely stone fruit, the construction of new refrigerators, new farms, the purchase of livestock – all this is due to soft loans, almost everyone. This is one moment. The second point is the support of industries, dairy, for example. The state pays an additional ruble for every liter of milk. The entrepreneur received a ruble for the delivered liter of milk. These are also serious financial resources that the entrepreneur who is engaged in dairy herds receives. In addition, in part, almost 40-50%, the state subsidizes the purchase of heifers, i.e. dairy herd as such. This is also a great resource of money. To date, Pridnestrovie is provided with milk production by 70%. We have two large plants: "Blagoda" in Parkany, "Tiraspol Dairy Plant", there are also private producers. 70% is good. We can talk about self-sufficiency.
As for growing vegetables and stone fruits, there is nothing to talk about without irrigation, of course. As of January 1, 2017, we had 9 thousand hectares under irrigation. Today we irrigate 33 thousand hectares. These are specifically irrigated. But we can do 38 thousand hectares. That is, we have already installed a network on 38 thousand hectares. Our targeted state reclamation program is aimed at irrigating 47 thousand hectares. Of course, we will move on. This is the result. All vegetables, all fruits are grown under irrigation in Pridnestrovie.
Well, let’s look at the numbers: we also provide about 70% with potatoes, cabbage – 90%, carrots – 82%, onions – more than 80%. We have our own vegetables - this can be seen on the shelves of our stores. The same goes for fruits and melons. We will continue to develop. It’s impossible without it. There are, of course, lame directions. One of them is the production of chicken eggs; we are provided with domestic product in this direction by 34%. There is a development opportunity for entrepreneurship here. Please invest. Well, the production of cereals should be increased to 80%. Therefore, we are developing and will continue to move forward.
A very serious assistance to an entrepreneur is the payment of 70 kopecks per cubic meter of water for irrigated lands. It costs much more, of course. The difference is again subsidized by the state. We assume a price increase, but a small, reasonable one, so that it will be enough for both the state and the entrepreneur and so that irrigation does not stop. We've had 70 kopecks, sorry, 6 years. Water prices are five to six times higher in Moldova. Other energy components - gas, electricity - are also available to agricultural producers at a reduced price. This is also important.
As for the population, this is also an important question. We do not plan to increase the cost of utilities for 2024. The only thing is that we will limit electricity. It will be at the same price for 500 kilowatts, over 500 kilowatts - at the market price. This is fine. 80% of our population consumes less than 300 kilowatts per month. If someone is more, then pay more. I think everyone will understand this and be satisfied. This is also an important factor for the stability of the situation within Pridnestrovie.
Agriculture is under control. We must work honestly. You can't deceive anyone. We had conflict situations between the understanding of the tax inspector and the entrepreneur. This was corrected by the Supreme Council with its decisions. We see it, we know everything. We have a small state, the deception is visible. There is no need to cheat. Work honestly. Get your income. Pay taxes. Get your profit.
Ekaterina Dorunga, “The Dnestrovskaya Pravda” newspaper:
Vadim Nikolayevich, we have discussed the issues and problems of people quite widely, let’s talk about stray animals. This is a controversial question. There are cases and statistics of attacks by stray dogs on people and children on the one hand, on the other hand, there are cases of people cruelly treating animals. There is also a resonant story of the Bendery animal assistance center. There is information that it is planned to build a full-fledged shelter of republican significance in the republic. How do you see a comprehensive solution to this issue?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Yes, it's a tough question indeed, society is divided, someone says that dogs should be sterilized, someone says that dogs should be sent to a shelter. Everyone argues, swears, but one thing unites them: everyone says one right thing - something must be done. There is a problem that needs to be solved. I really get a lot of completely different letters. Someone expresses one position, someone expresses another position. Someone talks about breaking the silence and howling dogs. There are hundreds of them, you understand, it is unlikely that anyone present would like to live in a house where dogs howl nearby. It's clear. Something needs to be done. So what to do? Ideally, this is the construction of a republican center for the maintenance of homeless animals. We have allocated funds from the budget. It remains only to find such a place away from the settlement. The Supreme Council has designated a certain footage, which will meet certain standards. It is necessary to enter into these norms, look for a place, develop financial resources and build. How else? Nobody will do anything for us, nobody will invent anything. It is necessary to dispose of rabid dogs that are sick and dangerous to humans, of course. Appropriate structures should work for this. Of course, you can't mock animals either. Even the principle of killing a sick dog must be humane so that the animal does not suffer. This issue is dealt with by the government, heads of administrations. We must find a place, master the financial resources. There is still time, to start this year, and to finish next year. Something like that. This will be at least some solution to this problem. Nothing will be solved if you only talk, discuss, argue, arrange discussions, assemble round and square tables, whatever you like. You have to really do it, really work. Find a place and build, there are no other options.
Alla Ivanchenko, RIA News of Pridnestrovie:
Vadim Nikolayevich, is there a concept for the development of mass sports in our state in the given economic conditions?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Alla Kharlampievna, yes, you said it right - mass sport. I am for mass sports. There is a sport of high achievements, of course, but there will be no sports of high achievements without mass sports. I am a supporter of the development of mass sports in the republic and the greatest possible involvement of the population of our state there - not only children, but also adults. Please note that any park area is not complete without a workout, horizontal bars, some kind of exercise equipment, and so on. We involve everyone in sports. Tennis tables appear that are manufactured by the Ostrog State Unitary Enterprise in places of deprivation of liberty, by the way. This is good quality, at a normal price. There is a mass of all kinds of sports grounds, football fields, bases, sports equipment. The Leather Ball tournament, that was reanimated as an example of mass sports three years ago in Pridnestrovie. It was revived from scratch In fact. The last stage took place in May. I handed out cups. 430 teams participated, 280 of which were guys, the rest were girls. Several age categories, each school puts up by age category, that's why there are so many teams. Think about it: 430 teams are almost 5000 participants in the Leather Ball tournament. All are equipped, dressed, with balls. The final games are played. It’s fabulous. We are starting the autumn season in September-October this year, and the final games in spring. This is an example of mass sports.
Another example of a mass sport is rowing. It seems to be not massive, perhaps, but we held competitions in which 53 teams of state authorities and administration, commercial structures, and educational institutions participated this year in June. It was great. 53 teams! How everyone was charged with wrestling, sports, competitions. In my opinion, these people already have it. It remains - look at the water, many go with their own teams, train to this day and wait for the next season, so as to, so to speak, race and compete.
We have a lot of achievements in power martial arts, and swimming shows results, and checkers, and chess, and gymnastics. It pleased. Children go to play sports. This is wonderful. Organize yourself, get your child interested, and the child will go, one hundred percent will go. Take up the sport yourself. You don’t need a gym for this, home conditions are enough. There are a lot of gymnastic elements that can be applied at home, develop your child and interest him in sports. Mass sports are interesting of course, we will develop further, we will form the sports base that exists in Pridnestrovie so that children have somewhere to come most importantly.
Dear journalists, leaders. We discussed some of the problems. Some of the problems did not even get into the foreshortening of our attention today, because there are really a lot of topics. They need to be discussed. I want to talk about the main event. This is the 33rd anniversary of the formation of our state, our Pridnestrovie. 33 years is enough to look back and understand both the historical background of all these events and the historical need for the creation of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. It was not someone's whim - the desire to be independent. We had no desire to be simply independent from everyone. Even the initial formation of our PMSSR state was part of the Soviet Union. It was after the collapse of the Soviet Union that we became the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. We wanted to live in a big Soviet family. It united us. Unfortunately, the scoundrels destroyed the Soviet Union. It's not a dirty word, it's their name. These people who destroyed the Soviet Union did not understand the consequences, the risk of fratricide that is taking place today. It's all from there. They thought about their self-interest, about their personal interest. This is a problem, of course. Pridnestrovie was formed under these conditions, in the most difficult conditions. And for the sake of one goal - to preserve the Pridnestrovian people, to preserve the language, culture, customs, freedom, and ultimately the life and health of people. Nobody suggested it to us. They tried to take it all away from us. Here is the main reason for the creation of Pridnestrovie - the preservation of people. The state is institutions that are already working to preserve people, protect their lives, health, and safety. Nothing has changed today. Basically, nothing new has appeared, all the same.
The Pridnestrovian people are unique in many ways. We show an example of coexistence of people of different nationalities, different religions. We don't classify people by skin color. We do not have racism, nationalism, fascism. We are all equal. We do not divide people by language. There is a unifying language - the Russian language. There is also the Ukrainian language, and the Moldavian language, and other languages. Please develop as much as you can. We are the Pridnestrovian people. This is the main achievement. There is absence of nationalism and other phobia against one's neighbor. We set an example for many, and showed how in such difficult conditions one can live and develop, preserving oneself. Remembering the first stages of the formation of the state, one cannot but recall the war that was unleashed by the nationalists against the people of Pridnestrovie. It is impossible not to note the role of Russian peacekeepers in the burning phase. Peacekeepers protect the peace and tranquility of our citizens until now.
I want to express gratitude on this day, on the eve of September 2, the day of the formation of our state to all the Pridnestrovian people for creating this state and being the bearer of the sovereignty of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, lives, works, protects, develops.
Thank you very much. Happy holiday. Peace and prosperity.