The Russian gas company GAZPROM no longer wants to deliver natural gas to Moldova from the beginning of the year “until further notice” – because of the small state’s alleged debts in southeastern Europe.
“Moldovagaz regularly fails to fulfill its payment obligations under the existing contract, which constitutes a material violation of the terms of the contract,” the St. Petersburg-based company said. The Moldovan government had denied that there was a debt of $790 million.
“We do not recognize so-called debts that have been declared invalid by an international audit,” said Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean. At the same time, he condemned these “repressive tactics” on the part of the Russian side. Moldova resolutely resists political pressure and manipulation from Moscow.
A state of emergency was recently declared in the Republic of Moldova, which borders Romania to the west – but due to the threat of a transit stop for Russian gas through Ukraine. Parliament voted in favor of the Recean government’s proposal. The background was Ukraine’s announcement that it would no longer transmit natural gas from war enemy Russia when transit contracts expired on January 1st.
The small ex-Soviet republic between Ukraine and Romania was dependent on Russian gas for a long time, but had declared a waiver in order not to become vulnerable to political blackmail due to the often low Moscow prices. For a long time, Moldova received energy from its pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria. Its leadership in Tiraspol has also declared a state of emergency due to the impending failure of deliveries.
Without gas, there is no electricity
What complicates matters for Moldova is that the majority of electricity has so far been produced in a gas power plant in Transnistria. There is currently no planned connection to the European power grid via a power line to Romania. There is only a minor connection; Electricity has been supplied continuously since October.
MOSCOW (dpa-AFX)