Another Transnistria: Russian peacekeeping mission in Donbass perspectives

Helsinki Human Rights Watch analyses the issue to answer the question: “Should Ukraine dublicate Moldova’s mistakes?”

The sharp change of the Russian vector regarding the introduction of a peacekeeping mission in the Donbass caused only suspicions. Taking into account the experience of Transnistria, nobody would accept to Putin’s fake proposal as for the introduction of so-called “Peacekeeping Mission” to Donbass.

Since 1992, when so-called peacekeeping mission of Russia has been introduced, taking advantage of instability and “civil war” provoked by it in Moldova (the standard scenario of Russia’s foreign policy), abolishment of the Russian troops’ presence in the PMR has been repeatedly attempted by the Government of Moldova.

These attempts do not stop today, after 25 years. So, in July 2017, the Parliamentary Coalition of Moldova approved a declaration calling for the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Transnistria. “The presence of Russian troops in local areas violates the provisions of the Constitution On Independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and neutrality of the Republic of Moldova,” the document says. Instead, the Moldovan parliamentarians are keen to replace the so-called peacekeeping mission in the unrecognized republic with an international mandate. Of course, such healthy initiatives in Moldova are blocked by Russia’s president, Dodon and his followers.

In addition to the withdrawal of their own troops, politicians also call for completion of the ammunition export, remained in the unrecognized republic from the Soviet era.

To sum it up, let’s name the consequences of Russian peacekeepers introduction to the PMR in 1992:

– Violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, its territorial integrity, sovereignty;
– Undermining security of citizens through presence of Soviet-made military equipment;
– Freezing the conflict instead of resolving it;
– Use of the PMR territory as another base for the Russian troops;
– Ensuring the expansion of the “Russian world” influence;
– Control of the region and blocking its development.

It is likely that, before shooting itself in the foot, as Moldova did, Ukraine should think twice in order not to give Russian “warmakers” rob the state, now legally.

EMPR

Helsinki Human Rights Watch.

Tags: donbas EMPR moldova russia ukraine war Transnistria Ukraine