Scheduled daily blackouts in Transnistria were extended to eight hours as the region’s energy crisis intensified, according to bne IntelliNews.
The region was left without gas after Ukraine halted the transit of Russian gas through its territory on 1 January. However, the Moldovan government accused Russia of masterminding the energy crisis in order to destabilise the country.
Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselsky publicly accused Moldova’s pro-European authorities of an energy blockade that had left the region without natural gas and electricity. The crisis may reinforce anti-government sentiments in the country ahead of the 2025 general elections.
[The crisis] arose because Moldovagaz and the Moldovan authorities refused to engage in a substantive dialogue with Gazprom regarding the transit of Russian gas via alternative routes. Transnistria could not agree on this itself, since it does not have a license to work on the external gas market.
The Transnistrian Foreign Ministry held Chişinău and Moldovagaz accountable for the energy crisis. Moldova had also blocked bank accounts, making it impossible for Transnistria to pay for natural gas imports offered by Chişinău, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities said they were ready to protect citizens in Transnistria who were left without permanent access to electricity.
