"Exclusion Zone". How Transdniestria Is Being Ousted from the National Elections

Vladimir ROTAR

Three days before the elections, the Central Election Commission was instructed to close 30 out of 42 polling stations for the left bank. Against this background, the unionists continue their campaign to intimidate the Transdniestrian residents

Once again, the participation of Moldovan citizens residing in Transdniestria in the republican elections has become an extremely hot-button issue, which involves the interests of key participants in the electoral race. The left-bank residents were practically not involved in the general Moldovan electoral processes not so long ago. A surge in activity was in the 2016 presidential elections, and the 2019 parliamentary elections consolidated the trend. However, it generated a number of scandals at that time: the opposition accused of organized transportation of the Transdniestrians to the polling stations (which was for a reason, judging by the numerous photos and video evidence) and buying up their votes. It seemed that in 2020 this was not about to happen. But another problem emerged. Unionist and pro-European forces, including the current PAS leader Igor Grosu, decided to cope with the Transdniestrians' "invasion" on their own: they blocked the road to polling stations, intimidated and insulted those who decided to take part in the national elections. Therefore, there was no doubt that this time the "Transnistrian case" would arise again. And that did happen. At first, many lances were broken around the decision of the Central Election Commission to increase the number of polling stations for the left bank and open them, including in the Tiraspol-controlled communities. However, the Information and Security Service and the General Police Inspectorate raised concerns about fraud and possible incidents that could disrupt the voting process. As a result, the Commission changed its mind and finally opted for 41 polling stations. This CEC's decision was challenged even before this revision by the Dignity and Truth Platform which urged to reduce the number of voting points for Transdniestria. This petition, like a "hot potato", had been moving from one instance to another during almost a month, until yesterday, three days before the elections, when it was conveniently denied, and the number of polling stations for the left bank was drastically reduced by more than three times. The Socialists Party leader, Igor Dodon, has already called this decision the "usurpation of power in the country", "This is not a final decision, because it still needs to be appealed. It goes beyond all boundaries, this has never happened before. The Appeals Chamber and the justice system are now guided by the President of the country. This is the usurpation of power. What is happening now has never happened in Moldova. 30 polling stations closed 48 hours before the elections by the Presidential Administration's decision highlights the desperation of the PAS. They understand that they do not have a single chance to win, and they commit gross violations that call into question the legitimacy of these elections." The ex-president called on his supporters yesterday to be ready to go out to mass protests within 24 hours, "Perhaps, tomorrow we will go to the CEC, and to the offices of parties that restrict the right to vote, and to the SCJ, and to the Appeals Chamber, which were under Ms. Maia Sandu. All the red lines have been infringed, no one dared to do that. Friends, be ready to go to mass protests at my call. Non-stop protests." Today, indeed, the members of the communist-socialist bloc, headed by Dodon, have organized a protest action near the walls of the Supreme Court of Justice. Amid the battles around the polling stations, the scandalous actions of the Alliance for the Unification of Romanians (AUR), associated with the left bank, continue. As you know, back in June, the AUR made two attempts to "break through" into the region on its famous yellow bus, allegedly to conduct agitation among the local population. Yesterday, a new one was made: representatives of the formation were again not allowed to enter Transdniestria, and even a scuffle with the Transdniestrian checkpoint staff was incited. According to the incident record, the unionists tried to detain one of the border guards by force, but he was defended by his colleagues. Needless to say how reckless and dangerous such incidents in the zone of an unresolved conflict are, especially performed by the unionists, one of the instigators of the 1992 events. Especially now, when the negotiation process with Tiraspol is half-dead and relations between the two banks are already very tense. The goals of these actions are quite obvious. First, to continue the November tactics of intimidating local residents who are expected to withdraw from participating in the elections. Secondly, to create conditions for the voting results in the Transdniestrian polling stations to be not accepted under the pretext that no proper campaigning was possible on the left bank. Therefore, similar actions might well be organized on July 11, as it was during the November elections. Fortunately, no one was held responsible then for violating the electoral rights of citizens. Now, as we can see, conditions are being created to return the practice of past periods, when Transdniestria was ousted from the Moldovan electoral field. It is clear that the pro-European parties do not need tens of thousands of voters who will vote for the left. But is it in the interests of the country's reunification? Not really, and the relevant authority is well aware of this. "That's bad, very bad. Are we talking about the country's reintegration? It seems that some politicians have forgotten that the left bank is part of the Republic of Moldova. Dear politicians, reintegration is not carried out through hatred and not through dividing people into good and bad ... I am very sorry that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova on the left bank of the Dniester got discriminated and are deprived of the right to vote. As Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, I regret that such decisions are made in a democratic state," Olga Cebotari, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, said. The polling stations decision and the unionists' actions in fact create an exclusion zone in the Moldovan elections. And this is despite the fact that the widespread involvement of the left bank in the Moldovan electoral processes was one of the few achievements in terms of the country's reintegration in recent years. This greatly reduced Tiraspol's arguments about "two separate states", emphasizing the interest of the region's population in national processes. However, as we can see, some players pursue their own gain and are even ready to neglect the country's strategic interests.