Vadim Krasnoselsky held a studio meeting with the chief editors of the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel and TSV. The initiator of the conversation was the President. They talked about essentials. Igor Avrenev and Viktor Savchenko voiced the issues that concern Pridnestrovians.
It was about the energy crisis – its background, the current state of affairs and measures taken to overcome the current situation. Vadim Krasnoselsky urged ignorant "analysts" to refrain from false assessments and incompetent comments and spoke in detail about how events actually developed, what factors influenced it. The President expressed gratitude to the residents of the republic for understanding and the absence of panic in society. Answering the question of whether it is planned to increase energy prices for the population, Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized that there is no relationship between the cost and volume of supplies at present, therefore tariff increases are not expected in the near future. Vadim Krasnoselsky considers that Pridnestrovie has become a hostage to the situation that Moldova uses as an instrument of pressure on the Russian side.
Another topic of conversation is the optimization of the healthcare sector. The President outlined the position of the country's leadership and expressed his personal opinion on the advisability of the changes. He emphasized that the process did not start today, but with the launch of the program to expand the network of medical facilities in rural areas in 2018. Vadim Krasnoselsky gave a number of figures illustrating the state's investments in the medical industry. 930 million rubles have been allocated from the state budget for healthcare this year (this is one fifth of the country's consolidated budget). There are six state programs. 33 million rubles were spent from the state treasury for the treatment of Pridnestrovians abroad (medical care was provided outside the republic at the state expense to 715 patients). The republic spends 24 million rubles on food for citizens undergoing inpatient treatment. However, the costs are not always justified. There is no need to maintain a clearly excessive hospital bed quantity for example. Optimization is not a reduction, but a reasonable and prudent approach, Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized.
Changes in the business sector did not go unnoticed by the interlocutors. Here is a process of optimization and corresponding improvement of the legal framework. The PMR President gave examples of abuses and exploitation of the legislation to the detriment of the state, and hence each of its citizens. Vadim Krasnoselsky recalled that it is from tax deductions that the republican budget is formed, with the funds from which social obligations are fulfilled, infrastructure is updated, schools, kindergartens, and medical institutions are maintained. The President drew attention to the fact that state employees deduct 15% of their income in the form of taxes, and for individual entrepreneurs who are not classified as self-employed, a 3% income tax has been introduced – much less than in other states.
The President was asked about agriculture, specifying whether it is timely to provide special support to this industry, given how difficult the situation is in the republic and abroad. Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized that a developed agricultural sector is a guarantee of the country's self-sufficiency and that it is the land that feeds the population, no matter what external factors may be.
The final one and a half hour discussion of the President with the heads of TV channels was the question of forecasts for the near future and the readiness of the republic for challenges. Vadim Krasnoselsky assured that the state authorities clearly see and realistically assess the threats and problems, promptly respond to developments and take measures adequate to the situation.
The full video version of the conversation is on TV air of TSV and PGTRK today at 20:30.
