Officials in Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova backed by Russia, have appealed to Moscow for protection amid escalating tensions with the pro-Western Moldovan government, Associated Press reports.
Moldova, a candidate for EU membership, imposed new customs duties on imports and exports from Transnistria on Jan. 1, 2024, sparking discontent in the region. This move has led Members of the Transnistrian Congress to seek Russian intervention to defend Transnistria against Moldova’s pressure, citing the presence of over 220,000 Russian citizens in the region.
Transnistrian officials also appealed to the European Parliament and the International Committee of the Red Cross to prevent Moldova from violating local residents’ rights.
Transnistria lies between Moldova and Ukraine with a population of about 470,000 people. The region declared independence in the early 1990s with support from Russia and hosts Russian troops as peacekeepers.
