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The Transnistrian leader, Vadim Krasnoselski, proposed the quarantine regime extension when it comes to border crossing until December 1, 2020. Transnistrian authorities claimed that movement restrictions were imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A document in this regard was published by the Tiraspol management administration.

Previously, restrictions on entering and leaving the region were due to expire on September 30. Since March 2020, Transnistria’s residents were allowed to travel outside the region only in emergency cases. Until the beginning of July, residents working outside the region were receiving special permits. The inhabitants who had to attend relatives’ funerals or leave for treatment also were supposed to apply for such permits.

As of July 3, permission to leave Transnistria started to be granted for a period of 12 hours or more, Transnistria’s inhabitants being required to indicate the reason for crossing the so-called border. At the same time, entering the territory of the Transnistrian region still remained restricted.

The exception to this regulations represented the residents of the Transnistria’s villages under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Moldova. Those people could freely cross the border with the Republic of Moldova, but only starting June 3. When Transnistrian authorities observed that some residents register in such settlements in order to be able to move freely on a systematic basis, it was decided to extend the permitting norm only to persons whose registration in the designated administrative units was submitted before June 3.

The Bureau for Reintegration Policies of Moldova has published a message expressing its regret over the decisions taken in Tiraspol.

“Without diminishing the importance of the epidemiological crisis and the need to protect the population from the risk of infection, the Bureau considers that the virus should not be used for political purposes and as a justification for human rights violations.

The health crisis generated by the pandemic is a tough test for all state authorities and their ability to intervene and adapt to new circumstances. The access to work, health services, education, free movement can not be hindered even more for the inhabitants who need to go outside the region,” is stated in the Bureau’s note.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 320 000 citizens of the Republic of Moldova have been limited to move freely from one bank of the Dniester to another. The roads connecting the Transnistrian localities with the mainland Moldova have been blocked by 37 illegal border checkpoints and barriers installed by separatists during the pandemic crisis.

The authorities from Transnistria announced that 11 out of 37 border checkpoints will be still kept “to minimise the import of the virus”, despite the requirements of the Republic of Moldova. Krasnoselski does not even exclude the possibility that the number of checkpoints increases if the epidemiological situation deteriorates. “Considering that the pandemic is still not receding, and the cold season is approaching, it was discussed that temporary checkpoints need to be provided with heat and electricity,” a media outlet cited the Transnistrian leader press service.

As of September 16, 2815 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Transnistria. 1882 people are reported as recovered and 75 persons died.

Photo: Transnistrian Customs Committee Press Service