Alaiba on Restrictions of Exports: “We Don’t Want to Look Like Sponsors of War”

Chisinau admits that it restricts some exports from the Transnistrian region. But it does this so that the goods are not used in the production of weapons that Russia is using in its war against Ukraine. This was stated by the Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization, responding to Tiraspol’s statements that the Electromash plant would be forced to close down, which would leave hundreds of people unemployed. At the same time, the deputy prime minister for reintegration says that the ban will apply to all Moldovan enterprises, not only to those operating on the left bank of the Dniester. “It is false that exports are completely blocked, but it is true that some exports cannot be approved because they are dual-use goods. These are equipment or materials that can be used for military purposes. Their destination is rather crucial. We don’t want to look like a state sponsoring war or supporting an aggressor,” said Economic Development and Digitalization Minister Dumitru Alaiba. Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian said that the decision to restrict exports concerns not only those factories located on the left bank, but all the enterprises operating on the territory of Moldova. In addition, according to Oleg Serebrian, negotiations are underway with the director of the Tiraspol-based Electromash plant to find the most appropriate solution to this situation. “I have talked to the director of the enterprise, and we are doing our best to adjust the destinations to which exports will be available for this enterprise. We realize that it is very difficult to make adjustments quickly. This took everyone by surprise to some extent, but I repeat - there is nothing specifically related to the enterprise on the left bank of the Dniester. In this sense, people working on the right bank of the Dniester are also affected,” Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian said. The information that the Tiraspol-based Electromash is suspending its activity surfaced in the media a few days ago. The left-bank media wrote that the Chisinau authorities were blocking the export of goods produced at the factory and that this was the reason why 600 people were unemployed there. In addition, according to the region’s press, since September 2023, Electromash has submitted 82 packages of documents to Chisinau for export authorization, but has received only 8 approvals. Central authorities motivated the refusals by the fact that national security and interests could be violated.