Illegally installed checkpoints and unauthorized movement of military equipment in the Security Zone were addressed at the Joint Control Commission meeting

14.05.2020, Bender – The illegal installation of checkpoints and barriers along localities under the jurisdiction of the constitutional authorities, blocking attempts of the military observers from the Joint Peacekeeping Forces to properly document these violations, and unauthorized movement of military equipment in the Security Zone were addressed by Chisinau representatives at the Joint Control Commission meeting on 14 May. The meeting took place in Bender and was chaired by the Head of the Delegation of the Republic of Moldova. It was held in compliance with the anti-COVID-19 protection measures.

It was pointed out that the abusive actions of the Transnistrian side affected the citizens' rights to free movement, medical care, property and, as a consequence, generated tension in the Security Zone. To the trenchant question about withdrawal of illegal checkpoints from the Security Zone and observance of the peacekeeping mission basic acts, the representatives of Tiraspol did not offer any answer.

The issue of unauthorized movement of military equipment in the Security Zone was also addressed. The Delegation of the Republic of Moldova considers this as a new challenge in the Security Zone, given the accident that took place in Butor village from Grigoriopol district, that involved an armored vehicle from the endowment of the Transnistrian structures.

Regarding the epidemiological situation in the military units of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, it was mentioned that the measures recommended by authorities to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus were applied and no cases of infection were registered.

The previous working meeting of the Joint Control Commission members took place in Bender on 12 March this year. After the state of emergency was declared on the territory of the Republic of Moldova and measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were implemented, the Joint Control Commission temporarily suspended its meetings in the city of Bender and worked remotely. During the same period, under the pretext of managing the state of emergency, the Tiraspol exponents illegally installed several "checkpoints" in the perimeter of the Security Zone. The initiatives of the Moldovan side to hold a videoconference or a meeting of the Commission Co-chairs to discuss the pressing issues, with the presence of Ukraine and OSCE Mission representatives, were not supported by the Transnistrian side.

The Delegation of the Republic of Moldova to the Joint Control Commission will continue to make use of all available tools to address the problems of the peacekeeping mechanism functioning, including to eliminate illegal checkpoints in the Security Zone.

Delegation of the Republic of Moldova
to the Joint Control Commission