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Russia Accuses Moldova of Gas 'Blackmail' of Transnistria

Shoigu presents the policy as energy leverage over the separatist region.

Overview

  • Sergey Shoigu accused Moldova of restricting gas flows and imposing prohibitive tariffs to pressure Transnistria in an interview published by Komsomolskaya Pravda and reported by TASS.
  • He said Russia is covering the breakaway region’s basic gas needs with what he called humanitarian supplies.
  • Shoigu argued the curbs idled a Moldovan power plant that had supplied cheaper power, forcing Chisinau to buy electricity from Romania at several times the previous price.
  • He said an outage on the IsacceaVulcanesti transmission line led Moldovan authorities to declare an energy-sector state of emergency.
  • In separate comments reported by Reuters, Shoigu said Russian citizens in Transnistria face threats and warned Moscow could take steps to protect them under Russia’s constitution.