Tiraspol eliminated 15 mobile checkpoints, illegally installed during the pandemic

Tiraspol eliminated 15 mobile checkpoints out of the 37 illegally installed in the Security Zone during the exceptional situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This information was confirmed by the Joint Military Command, following the efforts of the Bureau for Reintegration, Deputy Prime Minister Cristina Lesnic and Chisinau’s Delegation to the Joint Control Commission (JCC).

Thus, 6 mobile checkpoints from the North district of Bender, 3 checkpoints from Merenesti-Tiraspol, the checkpoints from Proteagailovca, Hirbovat, Dzerjinskoie, Pohrebea, Cosnita and Dorotscaia were eliminated.

“Neither the Bureau for Reintegration nor the Chisinau Delegation to the JCC want the situation to escalate.  On the contrary, they plead for the peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict,” said the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Cristina Lesnic.

The military observers will inspect the remaining checkpoints in accordance with the JCC decision of 2 July. The inspection will be carried out at the insistent request of the Chisinau Delegation to the Joint Control Commission in order to ascertain the illegal and abusive character of the control posts installed by Tiraspol in the Security Zone. 

We would like to remind that under the pretext of epidemiological measures, Tiraspol installed 37 border checkpoints without receiving consent of the Joint Control Commission. This obstructs free movement of people between the two banks of Nistru, as well as access of about 50 thousand inhabitants from the Security Zone to basic services. Installation of these additional checkpoints is a defiance not only to the Agreement of 21 July 1992, but also of the one of 20 March 1998, signed in Odessa. These two documents condemned the presence of border guards in the Security Zone and stipulated their gradual withdrawal at that time already. 

Chisinau notified the mediators and observers in the Transnistrian conflict settlement and the international community about the violations committed by the Transnistrian side and insisted on immediate and unconditional elimination of these checkpoints.  

The latest comprehensive information on the situation in the Security Zone was sent to all mediators and observers in the 5+2 negotiations format by the Chief Negotiator from Chisinau, Cristina Lesnic, on 15 July. Therewith, Chisinau has repeatedly requested that the OSCE Mission gets involved in inspection and documentation of incidents, under the document signed in 2004 on principles of cooperation between the JCC and the OSCE Mission. 

The Delegation of the Republic of Moldova to the JCC will continue the process of observing and monitoring the situation in order to notify any new incident in the context of the epidemiological situation, without the consent of the Commission.