Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, journalists. I am glad to see you today, to talk with you. Not much time has passed since the last live communication, but many events that require explanation have occurred. I am ready to answer any questions. Please feel free to ask questions. You know what worries you – what worries Pridnestrovians. You study social networks – this is also important. Therefore, please, you have the floor.
Igor Avrenev, TSV
Vadim Nikolaevich, how do you assess what is happening now with our neighbors on one side of the Dniester, across the border, what is happening with our neighbors in Ukraine, as it concerns Pridnestrovie? Your predictions, maybe what will happen next.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
This is difficult question, to be honest. I said long before the hostilities: what is happening between Russia and Ukraine is a tragedy for me personally, as for any normal person, I think. What happened on February 24 was probably the culmination. I am a supporter of the fact that it is impossible to assess the situation and look at the world through a keyhole. We see the last bright event - this is the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. Yes, this is an event. But behind it there are other events that led to this culmination. The people are smart and can handle situations.
For example, If we evaluate these events, we must take the history since 2014 (this is 8 years) perhaps, or maybe the history since the collapse of the Soviet Union (this is 30 years), or maybe the history since the 17th years, since the February and October coups. Causal relationships and threads of the past lead to the global events that are taking place today. It would be possible to recall earlier history, but we will not do this. Once again I say that I am used to seeing history in volume, globally. I used to connect events and look for causal relationships between them. I am a supporter of the idea that, unfortunately, the February and October coups, the civil war on the territory of the Russian Empire continue to this day.
Let's discuss. Just facts: February and October revolutions – 1917, the beginning of the Civil War then, which allegedly officially ended in 1923. But it did not end in 1923 in reality. Here was the persecution of people on a class basis, then there were the persecution of entire peoples, such as the Cossacks, then there were repressions. 1933, 1937, 1938 are also elements of the civil war. You can evaluate them differently. Some people take it. I do not impose my opinion, I just speak about the facts, about the truth. There was the Great Patriotic War then – the greatest tragedy of all mankind, where, unfortunately, about 8 million compatriots of the Soviet Union who fought against the Soviet Union went over to the side of Nazism and fascism. It was also an element of the civil war, unfortunately. All this has roots in the February and October upheavals, of course. And then – the post-war period, the tragedy of the peoples again: the Kalmyk people, the Crimean Tatar people, the Caucasian peoples, etc. Their eviction from their territory is also an element of civil war. There was peace then, somewhere from the mid-1950s to 1988. We are the witnesses of this world. We lived in happy times. I lived in the happy time – the time of good Soviet Union, worthy of the Soviet Union, which knew how to protect itself, protect its citizens, where there were no civil wars or civil confrontation. Although there were their own problems of course, but people did not feel it, people felt the peace. As soon as the communist party was weakened that was headed by strangers, civil confrontation began again. It's just 1988. This led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the second stage of the collapse of the Russian Empire let's say. That's all. The civil war rolled again on the territory of the former Soviet Union as the successor of the Russian Empire. The confrontation that we see today, I consider an element of civil confrontation. People of different nationalities are fighting. A civil war – it is very bloody and merciless by definition. If you look at the history of all civil wars, such wars are very different from other wars. How to call it all? Of course, this is a tragedy, a historical global tragedy. The revolution must be treated very carefully. You can call revolution a very beautiful word, but any revolution is like mold - it corrodes society, the minds of people, and the state. There is a lot of evidence for this. Evolution is another matter.
How does it affect Pridnestrovie? Well, of course, it affects Pridnestrovie. We are in a very vulnerable state around the flames of war. Little Pridnestrovie. Neighbours. Of course, we are affected by what happens. It goes without saying that it affects the economy, but economy is economy, let's figure it out, it's difficult, of course, but we figure it out, the most important thing is to keep peace in our land, peace. The people of Pridnestrovie know perfectly well what war is, what blood is, what losses are, and they do not want this. We have created a multinational Pridnestrovian people during 30 years, peace-loving people who do not wish harm to our neighbors – neither Ukraine nor Moldova. Therefore, we maintain neutrality in this whole situation and we are not a danger to our neighbors. This must be understood.
Igor Avrenev, TSV
If you listen to Ukrainian politicians, there are very frequent statements that they are afraid that there will be a second front, that Pridnestrovie will attack Ukraine, that Pridnestrovie is literally ready to do this, that the entire small army of Pridnestrovie will attack one million Odessa. How to prove to our neighbors that we are not going to attack anyone?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
There is nothing to prove here. In fact, everyone who makes such statements, and Ukrainian politicians of various ranks, they perfectly understand the impossibility of an attack by Pridnestrovie on Ukraine. It seems to me that this information that is leaking in Ukraine, all these statements are exclusively for the domestic Ukrainian consumer, so that the Ukrainian society feels the danger allegedly coming from Pridnestrovie. That's all. I think that all this hysteria that exists in Ukraine is artificially created for the domestic consumer unfortunately. Of course, this affects us, our people also react. I say again: everyone understands the true facts, the truth about the impossibility of an attack by Pridnestrovie on neighboring Ukraine. What I see is done for a completely different purpose. Its undoubtedly.
Vladimir Sandutsa, RIA Novosti
We have heard that Pridnestrovie is not going to attack Ukraine, does not pose a threat to Ukraine. How would you comment on the fact that there are sometimes calls to occupy Pridnestrovie in Ukraine, invade Pridnestrovie and other most incredible calls?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
I already said, by and large. This rhetoric is for the domestic consumer in my opinion. These are pure provocations, they will not lead to good. I hope for the sanity in the end of those who make the decision. It is one thing to talk in networks, at a computer, to make statements, to snap fingers – is one thing, but to make decisions is another, and to take responsibility for those decisions. I think that common sense will prevail among those people who make decisions.
I want to immediately comment on the terrorist attacks that took place in Pridnestrovie. The attack on the Ministry of State Security, on a military unit, attacks on the Russian Mayak enterprise (two attacks), shooting near warehouses in the village of Kolbasna. Of course, all these events have causal relationships, are interconnected. What is the purpose of any terrorist attack? Causing damage may even be secondary, and the primary task of any terrorist act is to sow panic, create instability in the region, in this case in Pridnestrovie. I do not know to what extent the goal has been achieved. We don't have a panic. Right now, there is panic in the networks. There is no panic in Pridnestrovie.
Panic is when stores are torn apart. They show the news of North America or Europe: a strong wind blew or a strong rain fell, there once they immediately rob stores. That's called panic, you know. And we don't panic. We don't even purchase food by stock and store. It was at the initial stage, then people calmed down, and everything is in the same mode.
A small part of the population left for Moldova of course. I don't blame these people. Everyone makes a choice for himself. We do not hold back people, we do not announce any mobilization, we do not prohibit young people from leaving. Please make your choice. I am convinced that a small part is leaving, and the majority properly perceives the realities of the situation, of course they are worried, but nevertheless they remain to live here, in Pridnestrovie, and are ready to defend Pridnestrovie if necessary. It's not panic, no. There is a reaction, but it is not panic.
We have about 25000 citizens of Ukraine who came to us as refugees. Only about 1500 left our territory after all these events. That is, even these people remained, who are frightened and so. This is also an indicator.
Who is behind the attacks? We will answer these questions in the process of investigating criminal cases that are initiated on offenses such as terrorism, death threats, and so on. The attackers gave us a good texture for further investigation. A film has already been prepared based on some results of operational and investigative measures, where we will show something. And something is what? These are fingerprints that were seized, these are genetic examinations that were carried out on those bioassays that were seized from all devices that were used and that are not in service in Pridnestrovie. I'll open it up a little. Let's say a 2018 grenade launcher was used in the attack. There are no such people physically here in Pridnestrovie. There is no 2018 release of weapons on the territory of Pridnestrovie and can not be. Neither in the Russian army, nor in the Pridnestrovie army. For example, the remotely piloted aircraft followed, because the memory remained there. The remotely piloted aircraft itself has a memory that captures the trajectory of passing through a particular territory through the GPS system. We all know this too – where it was, where it was taken off, where it was collected, and so on. These are all materials of the criminal case. We are working on the material, collecting the texture; definitely, this will give its result. Sooner or later we will name those who stood behind this and who committed these criminal acts. We have a very high detection rate in Pridnestrovie, we have professionals who are able to solve crimes using all scientific and technological achievements in terms of investigating criminal cases. We applied them here, so we already have a criminal case in several volumes based on the accumulated materials.
I want to warn those who decide to make such a joke, to commit such a thing: everything will fall into place, everyone will be held accountable. Please do not make it.
Vladimir Sandutsa, RIA Novosti
One more question, Vadim Nikolayevich: after these terrorist attacks, apart from the introduction of the terrorist danger red alert, what other measures were taken, including in the Armed Forces, increased combat readiness from constant to increased?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
These are not like terrorist acts. These are real terrorist attacks. Therefore, the terrorist danger red alert was introduced. It instructs all power structures, including the Ministry of Defense, to engage in certain tasks, to fulfill certain points. But it does not imply the transfer of the armed forces to increased combat readiness. In principle, we have carried out a set of measures, people are on duty, guarding especially important facilities, setting up roadblocks, etc. I will not name all the measures, it may be of no interest to anyone, but nevertheless, everyone is minding their own business. This code is valid until the 10th of May. It proposes not to hold large-scale mass events – it's understandable why. Unfortunately, we will not be able to celebrate May 9, as we planned. We will not hold a military parade and a large-scale procession of the Immortal Regiment to my great regret. People will come out with portraits, this is normal. I'll go out myself with a portrait. Nevertheless, we will not have mass actions. Everything that is supposed by the decree of the President, and according to separate orders, instructions for each ministry and department, everything is being carried out. Time will tell to what date the terrorist danger red alert will be kept.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV Channel
Vadim Nikolaevich, it is important to understand the position of the Moldovan leadership in order to put together this puzzle of peace, which Pridnestrovie so desires. It is clear that the purpose of the provocation, many experts say this, including in an attempt to involve Moldova in a military conflict. The “Moldova for Peace” mass event was launched at the neighbors, etc. Nevertheless, there are concerns. They are talking about European officers who are supposed to guard the Moldovan borders now. You met with the adviser to President Sandu in Varnitsa. Can we say that there is an interaction that can convince us that both Pridnestrovie and Moldova are committed to peace.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
Of course, it is difficult to speak for the neighbors. It's even wrong. I will express my opinion. As I said earlier, Pridnestrovie knows what war is: blood, loss of loved ones, destruction, etc. I assume that Moldova learned the lessons from 1992. Of course, there is a bunch of revanchists, Nazis, nationalists, fascists. They exist, but they are actually few in number. I still see that the Moldovan society, people are against the war. The opinion of people here cannot be overcome. I assume that those who will generate an armed confrontation against Pridnestrovie, in fact, Moldova will have very big problems with their citizens, voters, and society. I assume that Moldova really does not want war. Moldova wants peace. This makes me happy.
Two meetings were held in Varnitsa. We discussed security issues, economic issues, the movement of goods, the unblocking of the Moldavian Metallurgical Plant, the issues of the energy package – this is a complex of those issues that have accumulated.
What's happening? In fact, we see the 5+2 format stagnation. This is objective. Two guarantors, two mediators of the negotiation process - Russia and Ukraine - are fighting among themselves. How to seat them at the negotiating table? Probably it is unthinkable today. That is, we are talking about the fact that the format will not work yet. Temporarily. I don't talk all the time. Temporarily. Those expert groups that work in line with the format, without the format itself, are a truncated construction, which, unfortunately, does not achieve results. Political representatives work. This is also difficult without the main format. If there is no 5 + 2 format, it is necessary to switch to other contacts, “1 + 1”, for example.
I constantly called on the Moldovan side: let's talk. Even before the operation. The range of questions is large. Stability on the right bank in Moldova and on the left bank in Pridnestrovie depends on the solution of these issues.
The meetings took place. I will say this: it is too early to assess the results, but there is cautious optimism about the results of these meetings. It is not yet time to talk definitively about the practical results. Something else is important. The main result, it seems to me, is that the Moldovan side was convinced of the importance of resolving issues in live communication.
Valery Demidetsky, TASS
They say there is such a proverb: “There would be no fortune, but misfortune helped”. You met and resumed personal contacts with the leadership of Moldova, despite the fact that Ms. Sandu stated that she did not intend to meet. She was criticized on the right bank for this. I would still like to open the brackets despite your cautious optimism. Many problems in bilateral relations, especially in the economy, were surprisingly quickly resolved after this meeting of yours: Moldova got the opportunity to receive gas for another month, the Moldavian GRES got for another month (and I also wanted to ask you why only for a month) the opportunity to supply electricity on the right bank, the issue with the Moldavian Metallurgical Plant was resolved. How did you come to an agreement so quickly? It turns out there is potential?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
This is cautious optimism. All these actions are aimed at reducing the level of tension between Moldova and Pridnestrovie let's say. We didn't talk absolutely about political models. If we talked about it, probably, the dialogue would not work. We talked about urgent problems – economic, humanitarian, which are ripe and could probably lead to a collapse.
By the way, the terrorist attacks that were directed against Pridnestrovie were not the reason for our meeting. So it happened. The questions were more about the economy and security of course – already against the backdrop of these terrorist attacks. I explained to the Moldovan side our position, our neutral position, and named those facts that rule out a Pridnestrovian attack on our neighbors.
What will happen next, time will tell. The Moldovan and Pridnestrovian sides must during the month of May fulfill their promises and at the end of May again sit down at the negotiating table in order to continue our dialogue. This is fine. Let it be so. The main thing is that we relieve tension and heal the economy. This is also very important.
I repeat: it is too early to talk about actual results. I am always cautious in conclusions, life has taught me not to rush to conclusions. That's basically why I'm talking about cautious optimism.
Valery Demidetsky, TASS
The issue is related to warehouses in the village of Kolbasna. In connection with the latest events in Pridnestrovie, the danger has escalated (after all, there are still 20000 tons of ammunition stored there) that something could happen there. How reliable is the security? Please tell whether it is possible in this difficult situation to resume negotiations. Shoygu offered to start recycling. It is difficult now of course, especially due to the fact that Ukraine separates us. Do you think there is a possible risk of resumption of some incidents around these warehouses? Is there security there?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
These warehouses are guarded by the Operational Group of Russian Forces. Of course, the security and defense of these facilities has been strengthened. I will not go into details, but the warehouses are well protected.
As for disposal, three years ago, it was the month of August, Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoygu was in Pridnestrovie, in Bendery, we met and discussed the reduction of these arsenals. I supported the opinion of Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoygu about the need to dispose of these munitions, which clearly pose a threat to Pridnestrovie, Ukraine, etc. There is one nuance: you know, it's one thing to just say it, and another thing to do it. I expressed my opinion to Sergey Kuzhugetovich Shoygu then, and I also broadcast this opinion to all other intermediaries, observers, to everyone who is generally interested in this: of course, both the technical and political decision on disposal should be made, unambiguously, by the Russian Federation – the owner. Then, when the technical design for the disposal of this arsenal matures, it is necessary to come to us, to the local authorities. I will ask about two positions - regarding technogenic safety and ecology. Disposal must be carried out in strict compliance with the safety requirements for the local population. How to do it? For example, take out. Is export possible? I don't know. The experts must say. I am not an expert in this sphere. It is probably necessary to build normal roads, not dirt roads in order to take it out or maybe not, experts have to say again. Building some kind of mobile complex, a mobile recycling plant on site? No questions. But no one has done this, there is no technical task even for this, there are no grounds, in principle, to talk about further aspects of recycling. The Moldovan side has repeatedly stated the need to reduce volumes. No questions. Go, gentlemen, to the Russian Federation, agree on ways to reduce, and then come to us and talk to us. We will ask about the environment and technogenic safety, that's all. Another question. You have to think about where to put the components. Just imagine, an aerial bomb, for example. For example, an explosive was seized from it in a certain way. They seized it, there are no questions, the bomb case was sent to the Moldavian Metallurgical Plant, melted down for metal. What to do with explosives? Nobody thought, did they? There will be tons of this. Even our neighbors, Moldova, do not have a processing plant for this substance. Where is it all stored? It's better to have a metal shell, it's safer, you know? That is, there are a lot of questions, but since the moment of our meeting, to be honest, from the Moldovan side, from the European structures, I have not heard anything except slogans. It is necessary so it is necessary, please, do it, I must see the result. Afterwards, environmentalists and civil defense will ask the same question: How is this observed, and how is that observed? etc. There has been nothing apart from talking so far, to be honest. That is why the operational group of Russian troops guards these warehouses, which in modern realities acquire the status of such an object of increased attention.
Alexander Karasev, "The Pridnestrovie" newspaper
Vadim Nikolayevich, you have already touched upon the meeting in Varnitsa, followed by the arrival of the special representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in Tiraspol. Do you think this visit was accidental? Or is it related to the situation that we have today? One more question. Vadim Nikolayevich, how do you see the prospect of the negotiation process with Moldova?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
The arrival of Mr. Harting was on schedule. There is a schedule. There was just a superposition of events. You understand, we have a short time handicap and events will be enough for three hundred years probably. So that's how it all adds up, superimposed on each other. Of course, the arrival was on schedule. Probably, rather ritual: it is necessary to fulfill the item, to report. The item was completed. This visit will not bring actual results and consequences for the defrosting of the 5+2 format, it will not affect these processes. I repeat that today the 5+2 format is impossible for objective reasons, so we need to develop 1+1 contacts, working groups, and so on. There is a way out of this situation.
If we talk about a political settlement, I would like to focus on it separately. In general, the 5+2 format assumes three baskets of negotiations – these are humanitarian, economic and political baskets. We have not come close to the political basket, it is really very far from the possibility of opening it. Although certain forces offered to open it, the same Mr. Harting suggested. I always ask a whole series of questions that need to be answered before moving on to the political basket. I would like to dwell on some aspects of our relationship. Unfortunately, they are somehow forgotten, especially today, when the current events are taking place in Ukraine, when these terrorist acts happened, the meetings were held. We do not see the basis, we do not see the main thing in Pridnestrovie, we do not see the main thing in Moldova.
I will now only state the facts. In fact, all these negotiations in the field of the economy, the humanitarian agenda, and politics are a superstructure. The people decide everything in fact, the people make the decision. We have to figure out which people make the decision? What kind of people live in Moldova, what kind of people live in Pridnestrovie? In general, what forms the people as such? What forms the identity of the people? These are definitely, language, native language, literature, history. All this forms the traditions of society, culture and so on. This forms the identity of the people. According to these criteria, we can say what kind of people live in one or another part of the planet.
We were the Soviet people in the Soviet Union. of course, national features were in each region, but they reflected the culture of the people, each person, there was a commonality – the Soviet people. There were no contradictions. Unfortunately, at the moment of the collapse of the Soviet Union, two or three years before the collapse of the Soviet Union, a movement began towards the nationalization of the former Soviet republics. Probably, this is the main tragedy of the Soviet Union. It is a tragedy, the fruits of which we are reaping today. These are all links in the same chain.
Moldova has chosen this path, unfortunately. You remember very well that a law on the native language was passed in 1989 – only Moldovan in Latin. Pridnestrovie was not Pridnestrovie then, it was just Tiraspol, it was just the left bank, there was the city of Bendery. We demanded little, demanded only the right to speak Russian. That’s all. Why did they demand the right to speak Russian? We assessed the identity of those people who lived in this region, we wanted to speak both Russian and Ukrainian, we wanted to speak Moldavian as well. Moldavian? You are welcome, but give us the Russian language, the Ukrainian language. No. There was tension, and we asked for autonomy. Give us autonomy with our language, nothing else is needed. Not. How not? This is crazy, you know? Today it is savagery when people are forbidden to speak their native language. There was the Soviet Union. Please imagine the state of society and the protest that was absolutely just and tangible when hundreds of thousands of people protested against the fact that they were trying to take away their identity by taking away their native language. And what happened then? Legal decisions were made on the division of the Soviet Union. I will remind you about June 1990, this was the so-called parade of sovereignties of the former Soviet republics. First, the Russian Federation declared sovereignty on June 12, then other union republics. Moldova declared sovereignty on June 23, 1990. There was supremacy of the laws of the Moldavian SSR over the laws of the Soviet Union. Moldova went further. Moldova recognized the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact as null and void and, on this basis, recognized the creation of the Moldavian SSR as illegal. I remind you that the Moldavian SSR was created as a result of the conclusion of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact by joining Bessarabia to the MASSR. That is, Moldova declared this act illegal, legally null and void.
Speaking in the language of lawyers, Moldova de jure renounced Pridnestrovie. It is a fact. That is, if all the union republics declared their sovereignty and, subsequently, their withdrawal from the Soviet Union, then Moldova went further. She declared sovereignty, secession from the Soviet Union and secession from the Moldavian SSR. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, what kind of separatists are we? We didn't go anywhere. We lived as part of the Moldavian SSR for another year, we were called the PMSSR the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. Moldova was already a different subject in fact. What kind of separatists are we? We did not leave Moldova. This is the mistake of all correspondents, all politicians, all political scientists who say that Pridnestrovie withdrew from Moldova or the Moldavian SSR. It is not true. This is a mistake, misunderstanding of our situation. This is the basis for further political dialogue.
There was 1991 then. On August 27, 1991, Moldova adopted the final, last, most important Declaration of Independence. The document is, as Professor Preobrazhensky said, “real”. There were some very interesting things written in this document. It is written that Moldova confirms the illegality of the creation of the Moldavian SSR, assumes the obligation to eliminate the legal consequences (attention!) of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This is the rejection of Pridnestrovie. It is said that the people of Pridnestrovie (as they write about the Pridnestrovian people) were not asked when the Moldavian SSR was destroyed. In other words, our rights have been violated. At the same time, it directly claims Ukrainian territories, Bukovina and Izmail, the regions that Stalin took from Bessarabia and gave to Ukraine in exchange for the entry of the territory of Pridnestrovie into the Moldavian SSR.
They went further. Those strategists who wrote this Declaration of Independence laid down a very important model there – this is the Romanian language. The Declaration of Independence clearly states that one language is Romanian. What did I just say about what forms the identity of the people? These are language, literature, history.
Since 1991 these are facts, nothing personal - only the Romanian language, which was approved by the decision of the Constitutional Court in the neighboring state, only the history of Romanians, Romanian history, Romanian literature. All this forms the identity of the new Romanian people, who live on the right bank of the Dniester, in Moldova, historical Bessarabia, in fact.
Furthermore, socialists like to talk about the Moldovan language now. There is such an international register of languages, where all the languages of the world, even small peoples, are registered. Maybe one area speaks some kind of dialect, and it is already registered as a language. This registry of languages excluded the Moldovan language and assigned the Romanian language code to Moldova. That is, in fact, according to the Declaration of Independence, and according to the decision of the Constitutional Republic of Moldova, and even in the international register, there is no Moldovan language, but the Romanian language, which forms the identity of the new Romanian people who live in Moldova. Not a single politician has done anything since 2008 to eliminate this injustice, this historical mistake, by stealing, in fact, the Moldovan language from the Moldovans on the right bank. Today we are fixing, this is a fact, we must say about it, that on the right bank the identity of the new Romanian people with their Romanian language, Romanian culture, Romanian history has been formed. It is a fact.
Now let's take Pridnestrovie. What kind of people live in Pridnestrovie? Only Moldovan? No. Only Ukrainian? No. Only Russian? No. Gagauz, Bulgarian, Jewish, German, Polish? No. We have created the identity of the multinational Pridnestrovian people. This is also a fact.
When some Moldovan politicians say that one people lives on the left and right banks of the Dniester, they either do not know or are hypocrites. We have created a completely new national identity since the time of Soviet rule, for more than 30 years. On the right bank, as I said, there are new Romanian people. On the left bank, that is, in Pridnestrovie, there are the Pridnestrovian multinational people, where they respect their culture, their script, their history. We bring up and teach our children in those languages with which they were born, which are pleasant to them. We have three official languages – Russian, Moldovan, Ukrainian. We have a historical Moldovan language in Cyrillic, which de jure does not exist anywhere else, except for Pridnestrovie. De facto and de jure it exists in Pridnestrovie. We have this language taught in kindergartens, schools, universities. We have Ukrainian schools, Russian schools. The Bulgarian language is taught, and we will teach any other language that is in demand, open schools. There is also a Romanian language of instruction. This is absolutely normal. I don't see any problems. Let people learn and develop.
The main tragedy of recent years is when someone takes responsibility and takes away from people their native language and their identity. This unequivocally generates protests, tension, wars.
About one hundred and fifty thousand ethnic Ukrainians live in Pridnestrovie, the same number of approximately ethnic Russians, the same number of approximately ethnic Moldovans, people of different nationalities. Why don't we have any national conflicts? Why do Russians feel sorry for Ukrainians, and Ukrainians feel sorry for Russians, do not divide people by language and nationality? Why were we able to do it, but it didn't work out there? The answer is simple. We have never encroached on someone's language, culture, ethnicity, history, on the contrary, we are trying with all our might to preserve and develop the customs, culture, history of the people living here. When we have festivals in cities and regions, groups of different nationalities are always represented at these festivals. Ukrainian songs, Russian songs, Moldavian, Bulgarian, Jewish, Gagauz, Polish, German songs sound pleasant to the ear. That’s great. I get sincere spiritual pleasure from this, I like it. This is the essence, this is our achievement. Ultimately, all this gave us the opportunity to form the Pridnestrovian people. It is the identity of the people that is the basis of any negotiation processes. Everything else is an add-on.
Let’s return to political models. There was war, terrorist acts were committed against us. By the way, today there is a lot of controversy. Debaters sometimes use such a stamp that everyone has their own truth. I do not agree with this opinion. I consider that the truth is one, but opinions about this truth are different.
For example, the historical truth: during the Second World War, Nazi criminals burned people in crematoria. Is it true? True. Someone, the same neo-Nazis, will say that they did the right thing, while others will say that it is a shame, a shame on humanity. That is, opinions are different, but the truth is one. Let's take a group of Ilashku, this terrorist, murderer. Under the "roof" of the special services of Moldova, he participated in the killings of civilians in Pridnestrovie. It's true, who will deny it? But if you ask people from our society, representatives of the “Pridnestrovian people” community, then everyone will unanimously say that he is a murderer, and that he was tried is right, because it is impossible to negotiate with terrorists. This will be our opinion about this truth. On the other side he is listed among them as a hero he was awarded the highest Moldavian order. This is their opinion. This terrorist for them is a hero, what can you do? Everyone has their own opinion, but the truth is one.
Another example: when the European Court of Human Rights acquitted Ilashku and said that he had been illegally imprisoned in Pridnestrovie. This is true, this decision is true, it was made, it took place. It is also true that this European Court of Human Rights did not accept the application of relatives about the murdered of their loved ones, and the law enforcement agencies of Moldova did not accept this application either. This is also a fact. What is our opinion? That this is anti-democratic, has absolutely nothing to do with Themis, with democracy. The opinion is completely different, we are of different polarities in this matter. This also affects the political settlement.
We were looking for an opportunity to live with Moldova in one state even having survived all these tragedies. This is also a fact. On November 12, 1993, the OSCE mission concluded that it was impossible to ensure the rights and freedoms of Pridnestrovians in a unitary state, and they spoke about the federalization of Moldova back in 1993. What has changed in thirty years? Did they treat each other better, somehow began to live better with each other? No. Why have they forgotten about federalization, are they talking about a unitary state, only about a unitary state?
Then the Moscow Memorandum took place in 1997, which Moldova destroyed and withdrew from it. Then Moldova destroyed the joint constitutional commission, which was created in 2001-2002, withdrew from it. Then she left not the negotiations, but the signing of the Kozak Memorandum, then she adopted a completely incomprehensible law in 2005 on our certain status, and now something is being formed on its basis. This is nonsense, bluff. Of course, our people are very patient. Referendum was held in 2006 (by the way, the sixth referendum, we decide all the main issues through a referendum), we spoke in favor of the independence of Pridnestrovie with further integration with the Russian Federation. Independence. Only through independence can we seek forms of our interaction. The independence of Pridnestrovie is already the opinion of the people.
They like to compare us with Kosovo, with the DPR, with the LPR, with Abkhazia, with Ossetia. We differ from all these territories in that Moldova has legally abandoned us. This is very important to understand. This should be taken as a basis in any political negotiations. This is an absolute historical truth. This is also a fact. However, especially in the context of recent events. Maia Sandu (I respect her opinion, she is the President, she was chosen by the people) announced that an application has been submitted to join the European Union. No questions. And Mr. Ignatiev asked the question: what is it? How to talk about the third basket, about the status? We are talking about independence. How to talk about the third basket when Moldova has determined its vector of political development? What is it? Let us then leave two baskets in the “5+2” format – humanitarian and economic, we will resolve these issues, and leave the political one aside. What does this mean in general? There was no answer. Everything is very complicated here. It is very correct that in these 1+1 contacts we do not open political debates, political dialogues now, because it is impossible to conduct them today. Solving economic and humanitarian issues is important, this is right.
I am convinced (I said this in 2017) that recognition through blood, through war is very dangerous. We want recognition through evolution, through respect for our legal, actual right to independence, through the negotiation process. This is important to understand.
Alexander Karasev, "The Pridnestrovie" newspaper
One more question. It concerns the economy. All our inhabitants are interested in it today. What condition is the economy in?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
The economy is suffering of course. Unfortunately, we have sequestered and reduced our development programs and the Capital Investment Fund. Certain objects are being finalized of course, we did not exclude those objects on which work was started, we must complete it. I visited a new sports complex in the Solnechny park in Bendery yesterday. It's like an example. However, there has been a reduction. We wanted to take the path of increasing the salaries of state employees, public sector employees, and raising pensions. Of course, the issue of instability affects our desires, the implementation of plans. But we're taking a hit, that's for sure. Our imports have fallen sharply. Export is on the rise today, because our farmers are exporting the excess grain group, the oilseed group. This is fine. We leave what is necessary, what is necessary for the needs of Pridnestrovie. We have no problems with this. Our export is on the level, but we have a problem with import. Our traditional ties with Ukraine, Belarus and Russia have been broken. To take products, for example, to the Russian Federation, is very problematic and expensive today. Therefore, imports have dipped heavily of course, but nevertheless, if you go to Sheriff stores, branded stores of meat processing plants: Bendery and Fialt-Agro, you will see an abundance of food. Some small groups disappeared, but not significantly. I am grateful to these enterprises that they ensure the food security of our state. This is a public task in general, but the participation of private companies is also important. We have tools for state regulation of the prices of certain foodstuffs. By the way, our neighbors have not used these tools for a long time, forgot about them. We choose several categories of bread from all bakery products, and the price for these products is regulated by the state, minimum prices are set at the level of cost-effective cost. Everything else, lush loaves, is sold at a market price. This is fine. The same applies to dairy products in Pridnestrovie. The Government together with the Supreme Council have developed tools that allow us talking about food security. Remember, in 2017 I spoke about the need to be a self-sufficient state, we must strive for this. Somewhere they criticized me, they said “well, what self-sufficiency, we have a small Pridnestrovie, they say, everything can be bought”. You can buy, but you can not buy as practice shows. It is necessary to strive for self-sufficiency. What should be the elements of self-sufficiency? Energy resources - we have them. But most importantly, the food basket must be provided so that we can feed people with our own bread, vegetables, sour-milk and meat products. All this is done in Pridnestrovie to the maximum. We took the path of land reclamation and made a good start in this area that gave us the opportunity to develop agriculture at a completely different level. We have taken the path of concessional lending to agricultural producers. We lowered taxes and fixed the price of water. We have a cube of water for agricultural producers for 70 kopecks, it is 4 lei today in Moldova in my opinion. We have a completely different price component for electricity and gas for agricultural producers. We have minimal taxes, we gave people the opportunity to develop. All this gave its result. Of course, we are not 100%, but we ensure the food security of our state on our own. If earlier carrots were imported from Poland, now they are produced in Pridnestrovie along with potatoes and other vegetables. We grow a large range of fruit and berry products. We are processing. We have opened a new enterprise in Parkany, which produces our sunflower oil for the whole of Pridnestrovie. It is made of local seeds. We opened a meat processing plant and a dairy plant in Parkany. We help the Bendery meat processing plant, which has developed its capacity, maybe not by 100%, but today they produce more than 400 types of products. All this is on the shelves of our stores: semi-finished products, fresh, finished products. All this contributes to the absence of panic. If we suddenly lose food now, it will be worse than these explosions. This is really scary. We think we are working. This is the merit of both the Government and the Supreme Council of course. We are provided with bread thanks to the bakery. We need to talk about it. We are provided with grain for 2 years. Regardless of the harvest, we have a supply of grain in storage for 2 years. Regardless of export, import, price component. That's when the drought happened in 2020, there were almost zero grain harvests from the fields, everything dried up, but we had bread. Everything is fine. None of the citizens even felt it. This is the achievement. This is what self-sufficiency is. It is impossible for any state to achieve 100% self-sufficiency probably, but, let's just say, to make it necessary for survival, yes. We have achieved this by joint work.
Yuri Solovyov, Radio-1
A little bit more on the topic of security, is Pridnestrovie ready for new provocations, terrorist attacks? What will happen after May 10, when the terrorist danger red alert will be terminated?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
We will make decisions to extend or not to extend or to reduce the level of this danger depending on the evolving situation. The terrorist danger red alert cannot be canceled immediately. This is not provided by the mechanism. It can be lowered, but not cancelled. Or extended. We focus our law enforcement agencies on ensuring the safety of our people. It is most important. They work, we are grateful to them.
Alla Ivanchenko, "News of Pridnestrovie" Information Agency
About 35 thousand foreign citizens have crossed the territory of our state since February 24, we understand that these are citizens of Ukraine. The state has created all comfortable conditions for them: free food, accommodation, education, employment, treatment. If there was at least one gratitude from the leaders of Ukraine?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
We didn't do it all for the sake of gratitude. It was a reciprocal gratitude to a greater extent, because, if we recall 1992, I always thanked Ukraine, which then accepted our refugees in no less numbers. It was for a shorter period of time, but not in smaller quantities. We have always been grateful. We even have a granite plaque installed at the railway station in Tiraspol with words of gratitude to the Ukrainian people for accepting our refugees. The trouble is in Ukraine now, and we are accepting refugees. The words of gratitude of those who are here are more important for me. They sound. It is important. From the leadership did not come – maybe they are just not ready for this. We were engaged in help not for words of gratitude from the leadership of Ukraine. No. The main thing is that the people who are here are supported. It is most important.
As for the refugees, we provide them with the opportunity to live, the opportunity for children to study in schools, to be in kindergartens. We provide free meals in these kindergartens and schools. We provide free medical care absolutely for all refugees from Ukraine. We provide food as needed. They even passed a law that allows those people who want to do it to get a job on a temporary basis. There are certain nuances: there are no work books, but we employ and will pay salaries. This is absolutely normal. We think about these people, not come as you want - and live. No way. We must regulate this process. By the way, 180 children out of 600 children who went to school went to Ukrainian schools, the rest of the children went to Russian-language schools, mixed schools, and one child went to a Moldovan school, studying in the Moldovan language, in Cyrillic. It is interesting. Thank God it is. People choose for themselves. You are welcome. We have everything open, everything is clear. Therefore, I hope for understanding and refugees from Ukraine. I don't even dare to call them refugees. We are all from the former territory of the Soviet Union, the Russian Empire. These people have completely melt into the crowd here in Pridnestrovie, we do not single them out, to be honest. I don't distinguish them. I am traveling by car and cannot tell where is a Pridnestrovian, where is a Ukrainian, whether a person came from Ukraine or this is our Pridnestrovian citizen. Yes, it's all like our people. Let them live. When it is necessary, the time will come, they will leave. Maybe someone will stay. We will be happy with that too. This is fine.
Viktor Savchenko, First Pridnestrovian TV channel
Vadim Nikolayevich, the topic of panic and security was discussed. I would like to be specific. It was evident during the May holidays that people were leaving, that a lot of them were leaving. I think everyone saw in their yards that there were fewer cars. Usually they come to us, especially since we announced the May 9th holiday in such a way, we hoped so much that they would come to us, for sure, they would start coming now. It is clear that the queue to leave. People are leaving. There is panic obviously. You said "We will keep the peace in Pridnestrovie". A quote that everyone repeated, everyone was waiting to hear it from you. Millions of times this phrase was looked up on the Internet, foreigners looked. You said to trust only official sources of information. Vadim Nikolaevich, maybe there are some other magic words that will keep people from any panic actions?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
The Pridnestrovian people are people with common sense, wise people who are in a very difficult situation. This also applies to business. Over thirty years. Therefore, some kind of vaccination, the people have immunity, and therefore I say that in fact there is no panic. There is anxiety, there is tension, but these are completely different things. Panic, tension and anxiety are completely different concepts and actions. We will keep the peace in Pridnestrovie. Don't doubt it.
Of course, we are for the recognition of Pridnestrovie. We really need this. I have always said that we must create the most comfortable conditions for our citizens even in the unrecognized Pridnestrovie, as far as it depends on us. Whatever depends on us, we must do everything. We must build, develop, repair, open, upgrade, maintain security, internal security. It is within our power. We do it. We fought the pandemic – we did it at the proper level. Therefore, if we talk about the resources of the state and the ability to manage, we can do it. I am confident in our strength, confident in the strength of the Pridnestrovian people, officials who make certain decisions, including business. It is important. This creates confidence.
I have always talked about where it is comfortable to live – in the unrecognized Pridnestrovie, where there is peace, or in a recognized state, where there is a war? It is better in the peaceful unrecognized. Time has confirmed the correctness of my words. It may have sounded like I'm trying to distort, it may have sounded populist to some. Actually, this is true. Time confirmed. Therefore, we will do everything in our power to maintain internal stability. Those people who are worried – this is normal. People are in suspense from such actions – this can be understood. Unfortunately it is so. I once again say that common sense will prevail and we will save the world. And I see a similar desire of Moldova. No matter how difficult it is, they are also for peace. This makes me happy.
Valery Demidetsky, TASS
Some wise man said that the truth is the first to die in a war. Cruel information war has been disseminated in connection with the events in Ukraine now: fakes, distortion of facts, banal lies. Your neighbors are taking very strict measures in this regard. We know, they even shoot people with a different opinion in Ukraine. There is a ban on the rebroadcasting of Russian programs in Moldova. Such tough measures were also taken In the Russian Federation just a few days ago. What is being done in Pridnestrovie to fight this information war and not provoke panic. This is one question.
And just a little clarification, you talked about the basket, but now it's a dead end. Moldova adopted a law on the future status of Pridnestrovie. Many criticized it, I was one of them, I said that it was impossible to marry, as it were, without the desire of someone, it was necessary to discuss in the negotiations. You have the results of the referendum, right? That's pretty much the highest, right? How now to get out of this political basket? It turns out that these negotiations make no sense to continue?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
You answered your own question, there is no need to repeat, what for?
Let me explain the first question. Of course, such a round of information campaign against us, even information sabotage, is tangible. Maybe at first glance it is not as noticeable as grenade launcher shots at the Ministry of State Security building, but it is probably no less noticeable from the point of view of information security. Many fakes have appeared, even a fake website of the President, a fake website of the Government, the Supreme Council, some documents, a fake newspaper, and so on. Someone is doing it, right? Someone receives money for this, develops certain methods. All our official websites are subject to very serious DDoS attacks, so we cannot broadcast information, our opinion on certain issues outside of Pridnestrovie. Therefore I urge you to use modern resources to overcome these DDoS attacks, to overcome this informational pressure of course. You can use different Internet social communities, different channels to bring information – those that are not closed and available. What we are doing. How to resist? They counteract, there are appropriate units, they are engaged in this. We are studying all this and we are developing those models that will prevent the collapse of our information sources based on the available resources. Now wars are not waged, like the First or Second World Wars. The element of information warfare, economic warfare is very palpable now. We live in these conditions. Well, what will you do? We must survive. We are able to resist this negative phenomenon. Therefore, I appeal to all citizens once again with a request to trust only official sources, not to be fooled by any lies of imaginary news, some kind of fake documents. Most importantly, be very careful with couch strategists who do not get up from the couch, sit at the computer and think, so to speak, about hostilities, trends, panic, mobilization and other negative consequences of certain terrorist attacks. These couch strategists do not actually know anything, they draw information from the same resources that are available to you. Read for yourself, I say again: the truth is always the same. Find that truth and form your opinion based on that truth. You will stop arguing because you will have your own opinion. You don't have to force it on anyone else. This is your truth and your opinion, formed by virtue of your upbringing, your culture and decency, in the end. Everything is very simple, in fact. Panic can arise if people do not have information. We do not withhold information. We, as I have already said, will show a film today about some stages of operational and investigative measures for those terrorist acts that have been committed. We will do this so that people know that we are working, that we are on the path to uncovering these criminal acts, which, of course, prevents other terrorist attacks against us, I am convinced of this. Please, read official news, not just social networks. Watch the First Pridnestrovian TV channel and TSV. This is very important today. By the way, all channels work only in Pridnestrovie: Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and European. All channels work, in my opinion, we even have access to Chechen. This is normal, dear Pridnestrovians, please watch the news, receive any information, draw conclusions, seek the truth. It seems to me that today all channels work only in Pridnestrovie. They are limited in full access in other states, but we have everything. I am still convinced that this is the path to stability, to de-escalation and to the absence of panic.
Igor Avrenev, TSV
Vadim Nikolaevich, just the other day, President Zelensky of Ukraine was discussing Pridnestrovie and wondering who is happy here. He said that this is not Dubai or Hong Kong, and after that a flash mob appeared on the Internet: just citizens of Pridnestrovie, people from Pridnestrovie posted some videos, filmed their children, themselves and told who exactly here, in Pridnestrovie, is happy. I would like to listen to the President of Pridnestrovie, what could he answer to the President of Ukraine: who is happy here in Pridnestrovie?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
I ask a question like in Odessa: do you need Dubai or Hong Kong here? Here's the point. Maybe someone considers him lucky if he is in Dubai or Hong Kong, everyone has their own opinion. I consider myself lucky if I live in my homeland.
I'm not going to trace Dubai or Hong Kong or Switzerland. Why? Yes, because they have their own culture, their own language, their own customs, and it is impossible to attract this to our land, just as it is impossible to attract Dubai and Hong Kong to Ukraine, in no case, in my opinion. Ukraine is its own people, formed, its own identity, language, culture. What about Hong Kong or Dubai?
The same is true in Pridnestrovie. Pridnestrovie was created by the Pridnestrovian people, people in Pridnestrovie feel happy, not everyone, but this is normal maybe.
I am glad that I saw the reaction of people. You didn't do it, did you? People themselves filmed and laid out – as opposed to the words that there are no happy people here. Who is a happy person in Pridnestrovie? There are these happy people in Pridnestrovie, there are! Happy faces, happy children who don't need war. The fact is that the answer was from the people made me very happy as a citizen of Pridnestrovie and as the President.
Alexander Karasev, "The Pridnestrovie" Newspaper
Vadim Nikolaevich, we took off our masks. It was not enough for the pandemic to return again. Are questions of prevention, vaccination of the population on the control today?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
We cannot talk about a complete victory over the coronavirus today. To date, there are about fifty people with coronavirus in our hospitals, and about sixty are still being treated at home. There are patients with coronavirus. If we compare when we had about seven to eight thousand coronavirus cases at one time, then these numbers cannot be compared of course. We coped with this shaft, we fought for our lives and coped with dignity. We provided everyone with diagnostics, treatment, medicines. So we will continue to act, depending on the situation. To date, the current situation has allowed us to cancel even the mask regime. Citizens want to be vaccinated – please, the vaccine is available, get vaccinated. Treatment is available – please get treated if you get sick. We will act on the basis of the current situation in the future. We will take appropriate measures if the pandemic starts to grow.
Yuri Solovyov, Radio-1
Vadim Nikolayevich, in your opinion, does Pridnestrovie need another Operational Headquarters - to counter disinformation? In order to respond even faster and more quickly to stuffing, to rumors. To conduct explanatory work in public and social networks. This work, of course, is underway, but perhaps it should be made more centralized and operational?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
We will not create an Operational Headquarters. People are now accustomed to the Operational Headquarters. If the Operational Headquarters is created, then everything. No, in fact this work needs to be intensified of course, but at the same time, we will definitely not create an Operational Headquarters.
Igor Avrenev, TSV
Vadim Nikolaevich, my child sang “Let there always be sunshine” song in kindergarten – the song about peace. I looked at him and realized that many years ago I sang this song too. Nothing seemed to have changed, but I looked at him and realized that something was changing around. I love that he sings this song. I sang this song with him now. It's been a great duet. A child of one of the employees today on a remote learning system was at a Ukrainian language lesson. They taught poems about the Great Patriotic War – in Ukrainian. It was a kind of dissonance. It was strange to hear it now. We watch what is happening everywhere, but here the Ukrainian language and something about the Great Patriotic War, and this is something good. What can you say about what is happening now with our past, with those songs that we had, with those poems that we had?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
Speaking globally, I see an attempt to revise the lessons of history, to revise the history of Russia, the Soviet Union, to revise the history of the Great Patriotic War, the First World War. Such attempts have been made before. This does not inspire optimism. This must be resisted. Resist with your knowledge, your history, your love for your ancestors.
Very information-promoted place is occupied by the St. George ribbon. I want to focus on this symbol. There are many disputes even among those who wear St. George ribbons: that this is not a symbol of Victory or one of the symbols of Victory. Let's think. If you remember Soviet times, there were postcards for May 9th. There were guard ribbons or St. George's ribbons presented on many postcards. That is, the St. George ribbon did not become a symbol of the Victory in 2005, as someone is trying to present it. As if in 2005 they came up with the symbol of Victory – the St. George ribbon. It is not true. The St. George Ribbon, perhaps, did not occupy such a place as today, as a symbol of Victory, nevertheless, it was a symbol along with a red star, with a red banner of Victory, with a T-34 tank, with Katyusha, etc. That is, the St. George ribbon is one of the components of the symbolism of the Victory. But it attracts such heightened attention right now for some reason. If there is already increased attention, let's take a closer look at what the St. George ribbon is. Where did it originate from, what did it mean.
The St. George ribbon appeared in 1769 according to the Decree of Empress Catherine II, appeared with the introduction of a new order of the Russian imperial army - the Order of St. George. There were several degrees. It began to be called St. George Ribbon, two yellow colors, three black. It has both a religious explanation and a heraldic explanation. Religious - three deaths (black colors) and two resurrections of George the Victorious. The heraldic explanation is the colors of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire for that period of time and the flag (black-yellow-white). If the black and gold colors were the colors of the Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire, then the white color personified George the Victorious. By the way, today is the day of St. George the Victorious. Congratulations on this. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates this day on May 6. Who were the first holders of the Order of St. George the Victorious? The Count Orlov was in 1769. One of the first cavaliers was our Pyotr Ivanovich Panin, who stormed the Bendery fortress and was awarded the Order of St. George the Victorious, I degree. We have a monument to Peter Ivanovich in Bendery. You see, the first people in Russian history who received this order, even they are related to Pridnestrovie.
The history of this ribbon developed: St. George banners, St. George weapons, St. George trumpets, etc. appeared. The story ended in 1917, when the Soviet government canceled all these awards. The next mention of this ribbon was in September 1941, when guard formations appeared in the Soviet army during the Great Patriotic War. These symbols appeared in the Soviet fleet - namely the guards ribbon, guards symbols then. It was not called St. George, it was called Guards. And then in 1943, the Order of Glory of three degrees appeared, also with this Guards or St. George ribbon. Other awards began to be designated with these colors then.
Therefore, my opinion is deeper. The St. George Ribbon is not a symbol of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. This is a symbol of all the victories of our ancestors, starting from Catherine II, ending with today. It is a fact. This ribbon, it actually links all our historical victories. By the way, there is a movement called not “Heirs of Victory” in Pridnestrovie, as for example in the Russian Federation, but “Heirs of Victories”. We are the heirs of the victories of all our ancestors, all Russian weapons. Our movement studies not only the Great Patriotic War, but also the First World War, Russian-Turkish soldiers, the Russian-Japanese war, the Napoleonic wars. There is a St. George ribbon that links all historical events everywhere. Someone is trying to steal this history from us, to break this ribbon, to destroy the unity of these victories. Someone does it out of ignorance, just making some statements, and someone - intentionally. I am convinced that entire institutions are working here that counteract the movement called the St. George Ribbon, which simply connects our historical events. For example, the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. As a result of this war, which the Russian Empire waged with Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania gained independence, peaceful treaty relations took place: the Berlin Treaty, the Stefan Peace Treaty, etc. That is, the world was fixed in Europe. The St. George ribbon is also a symbol of this Victory. The St. George Ribbon is also a symbol of Romanian independence, if you look at it this way. Someone is trying to distort and forget it all. There was Victory in the Great Patriotic War of course. There are a lot of dreamers here in fact. Everything is very simple. There are states of Hitler. I won't name them. Open history, see who was there besides Germany, who was an ally of Germany. Look at the geography of the death camps. It was the Nazi, fascist ideology that turned many European states into killing grounds. In the landfills where people were burned, poisoned in gas chambers, tortured, experiments were carried out on them. It was possible to break the back of fascist Germany, Nazi Germany and the Axis states, to stop the atrocities only thanks to the sacrifice of the Soviet soldier, the dedication of the Soviet army and its allies, the feat of the entire Soviet people. They are trying to talk about the need to strive for understanding that we need to understand them now. What to understand? Understand what? How can you forget? I like the position of, say, Israel: they clearly defend their interests, clearly declare the genocide of the Jewish people, talk about the Holocaust, and protect their people. It's okay, it's right. Well done, so should we.
We do not hush up our victories in Pridnestrovie. We are talking about our victories and the victory of the great Soviet people in the terrible Second World War. At the same time, we are talking about the Holocaust (monuments are being erected in our country), and we are talking about other tragic events. Those who try to lie, let them think about the consequences. All this can happen again. We are seeing elements of repetition now. It is impossible to negotiate with the Nazis, with the fascists, as well as with terrorists. I am deeply convinced of this. It's not from people, it's from nonhumans. There are people - there are non-humans. Therefore, if there is a symbol, it is necessary to take care of it, like apple of an eye - and the Banner of Victory, and the star, and the St. George ribbon.
Yuri Solovyov, Radio-1
Vadim Nikolaevich, what film about the Great Patriotic War do you like to watch and what would you advise Maia Sandu to watch on May 9?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
To say that I like to watch films about the Great Patriotic War would probably be wrong in fact. I like to watch comedies, I like to watch animated films, films of an entertaining nature. I love this. But “love to watch a film about the Great Patriotic War” is the wrong wording. I watch them with pain, with respect, with historical interest – yes. With pain, to a greater extent, because any film about the Great Patriotic War, no matter how it was made, is a tragedy - a tragedy of people, a tragedy of peoples, a tragedy of the Soviet Union and other states in the end.
I have always said that one should not talk about victory over the state, one should talk more about victory over the ideology of fascism and Nazism in the context of the Great Patriotic War, the Second World War. This is probably the most important thing. Some states also lost of course. The most important thing is Victory against Nazism and fascism. I watch such films with pain and respect.
I love Soviet cinema in general. The films that I watch about the Great Patriotic War are connected with the Soviet period. Why? That is probably because even veterans of the Great Patriotic War played in these films. There are fewer lies, fewer special effects, everything is natural. This tragedy is felt. For example, "Young Guard", the first film "Young Guard" was filmed on the site of the very mines where the Young Guards were dumped, it was filmed there, can you imagine what kind of energy this film has? It's such a pain... You perceive how everything really happened. Or, the hardest film is "The Dawns Here Are Quiet". How can you like to watch "The Dawns Here Are Quiet"? It's hard to watch. But you have to watch. “Battalions ask for fire”, and “Only experienced military men go into battle”...
I can recommend “Come and See” to the President of Moldova – that is the name of the film, it is also connected with the tragedy of the Great Patriotic War. You can’t watch it and you can’t love this film. You should watch. Come and See. No more words or comments.
Igor Avrenev, TSV
Vadim Nikolaevich, in conclusion, I would like to thank you for meeting with us and answering our questions. Of course, everyone has questions about relations with neighbors, about the war in Ukraine, questions about the future, about what awaits us. Thank you very much again from me and from my colleagues.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President
Thank you for the interesting dialogue, it was just a dialogue. Of course, I could not answer, maybe I didn’t give all the information that I would like to give during this period of time, but the most important thing I had to do was to reassure our citizens by talking about peace. I hope I reached my goal. Thank you.