Pridnestrovie is celebrating its main national holiday. Celebrations on Republic Day took place across the country. Top officials, led by the PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky, laid wreaths, baskets, and floral arrangements at the Eternal Flame, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the monuments and plaques bearing the names of the fallen at the capital's Glory Memorial. A solemn ceremony raising the state flags of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic followed. The red and green flag celebrates its 35th anniversary as the national symbol of Pridnestrovie. The Russian tricolor has been used alongside it in Pridnestrovie since 2017. Both canvases soared into the sky above the festive capital to the sounds of the Pridnestrovian Republic's National Anthem performed by the Orchestra of the General Staff of the Pridnestrovian Armed Forces.
Following the official ceremonial events, the PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky spoke with journalists. For example, they asked about the republic's current state of affairs compared to previous periods. "Everything is subjective. We've had difficult periods in our lives – the formation of the republic, and the trials we've faced. Things aren't easy now. There were certain factors back then, and there are others today. They were natural, like the pandemic, and probably affected the entire world while back then, and we fought and overcame these negative factors together, today's challenges are largely determined by external factors – definitely the military operations in Ukraine and the actions of neighboring Moldavian terms of the pressure it places on our economic entities and citizens, of course. Well, we'll overcome this, too; it's not the first time", Vadim Krasnoselsky responded.
One more question: what is the status of the resolution of the issue of consular fees for Pridnestrovians applying for Russian citizenship? The President’s response: "The issue has already been resolved and closed. Fees for Pridnestrovian citizens have been reduced by and large, they remain practically within the previous range. Some work has been done. I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to Russian Ambassador Oleg Borisovich Ozerov and the Russian leadership who made these decisions. I would like to name the people who played an active role in this on our part: Foreign Minister Vitaly Viktorovich Ignatiev and Deputy Chairman of the Government Vitaly Nikolaevich Neagu. You know, it's not always customary for us to name those who played an active role in achieving a goal. It's worth doing: people worked, people worked for the benefit of the people of Pridnestrovie. The more than 60000 people registered indicate that this decision was very important for Pridnestrovian citizens – a large number of Pridnestrovians want to obtain Russian citizenship. I'd like to point out how negatively this is perceived by some Moldovan officials. Not by the people. The Moldovan people also view it quite positively, and they want to obtain Russian citizenship – many of them as well. Some officials are starting to fantasize, to say things, to be hypocritical, in other words, to lie. So, what does this mean? It means we're doing everything right. The decision is correct, and so is the decision to lower the fee for Pridnestrovian citizens. I consider all of this will translate into practical results in the implementation of the Russian President's decree on granting Russian citizenship to Pridnestrovian citizens".
The topic of Moldova's introduction of a pseudo-VAT for Pridnestrovian entrepreneurs did not go unnoticed. Journalists asked what Pridnestrovians should do in this situation, what to believe in, and what to hope for. "Believe only in yourself, you understand? This is not the first time we've seen this. Our people have overcome very difficult trials: in the history of Pridnestrovie, in the history of the Soviet Union, and in the history of the Russian Empire. The Pridnestrovian people have always faced something, and we have always overcome it. Ultimately, everything went away, but the people remained! Therefore, we must consolidate and address these challenges. There will be results 100%", the President expressed.
Speaking about the negotiation process with Moldova, the PMR President noted: "I have said it many times: the greatest problem is the lack of a negotiation process, when there is no negotiation process, when people don't sit at the negotiating table, and someone comes up with an idea, a desire to decide someone else's fate in some dark room. This is what Moldovan politicians are doing now: deciding (or they think they are deciding) the fate of Pridnestrovie in a dark room. They are taking unilateral, discriminatory actions against legal entities and citizens of our republic as a whole. This is a mistake. I don't know of any examples where anything could have been achieved without a negotiation process. This is a normal, open, democratic form of communication. Let me remind you that it was Moldova that broke the "5+2" format in 2019 – deliberately. Moreover, those who participated in breaking the "5+2" format are now giving interviews and are proud of it. Do you understand? They are proud of it. What can you be proud of when you have broken a normal democratic process? What can normal people be proud of? I don't think normal people have anything to be proud of. Therefore, we advocate and strive for the resumption of the negotiation process, of course. Everything else will come later, after the resumption. I appeal to all participants in the "5+2" format, while it exists de jure, to let common sense prevail. I urge them to understand that without negotiations, nothing is possible. The Russian Federation and the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic clearly support the resumption of the negotiation process – I consider that everyone will gradually come to this conclusion sooner or later.
Journalists raised the issue of Russia's recognition of Pridnestrovian higher education diplomas and school certificates. "A great deal of work has been done, a massive undertaking. It's been going on for years. As of today, 142 educational institutions – specifically, general education institutions, that is, schools have received Russian accreditation. We've begun issuing Russian certificates to school graduates starting this year. We were a bit late for the Last Bell ceremony at the end of last year, but that's okay: gradually, we'll invite the students who remained in Pridnestrovie, or their parents if their children left and enrolled in a program outside of Pridnestrovie, and present them with Russian-style certificates. Our education is fully recognized in other words. By the way, the certificates are printed by the Goznak of the Russian Federation and are included in the relevant register. Therefore, this recognition of general education represents a major step forward. And, naturally, we have accredited the Pridnestrovian State University in all its specializations, as well as all our technical schools – that is, secondary specialized educational institutions and all of them will also be awarded Russian diplomas. There are people behind this work, too, and I'd like to highlight them: Vitaly Vyacheslavovich Bondar, a member of the Bendery City Council and Vice-Rector for International Policy, and Vitaly Nikolaevich Neagu. I set these goals for Vitaly Nikolaevich Neagu a year ago. They are being implemented at present. Thanks to the efforts of our colleagues, we have accomplished a great deal for the future of the educational space of our homeland – Pridnestrovie. To talk about our unrecognized education system (remember, they used to like to speculate about this) – all this no longer works. It doesn't work. By and large, even a high school graduate can come to any educational institution, submit documents, or get a job – everything is recognized. This is very important," Vadim Krasnoselsky explained.
They discussed the upcoming Russian elections, specifically Moldovan protests over the opening of polling stations in Pridnestrovie. "I think it's up to the Russian Federation to decide how many to open and how many not to open. We will hold the elections at the polling stations that are open. The decision has already been made to open 17 polling stations in our republic. This is all traditional for us; we've been doing this for years. I consider that citizens who hold certain citizenships, say, Russian citizenship, have the right to participate in electoral processes, and they should be given this right. The fact that this right is being taken away somewhere is wrong. "The fact that bridges in Moldova are being mined during elections, and that Moldovan citizens are unable to enter the neighboring state to vote, is wrong. It's all artificial, and everyone has seen it firsthand. The opening of polling stations in Pridnestrovie underscores the democratic nature of the process: giving people the right to vote. This is crucial. People must vote. We won't be campaigning for a specific candidate; we will be campaigning for people to come to the polls and make that choice," the President emphasized.
Concluding the meeting, Vadim Krasnoselsky invited everyone to the festive courtyards and the opening of new halls at the Pridnestrovian State Museum. He congratulated and thanked the Pridnestrovians: "I want to express my gratitude to our people for their patience, for demonstrating through their work that life exists on our land, for the fact that our Pridnestrovians shape the Pridnestrovian people with their lives. This is very important. We will overcome all problems together, as we have done so many times. The main thing is not to panic or despair together. This is not good. We will overcome everything. We will build peace. We will follow the main principle – interethnic harmony together. Ultimately, we will celebrate together. I simply want today to wish you a good mood: to go outside, chat with friends, walk through your cities and districts, and raise a toast to the prosperity of our homeland – to the prosperity of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic".
