At the meeting on November 19, 2020, the Delegation of the Republic of Moldova maintained the attention of the Joint Control Commission to the presence of illegal checkpoints and abuses against citizens committed by armed representatives of the "mgb" from the left side of Nistru.

The Delegation of the Republic of Moldova argued its position on the need to take firm decisions on the stated illegal actions that violate the fundamental human rights to freedom and free movement, but also generate dysfunction of the peacekeeping mechanisms in the Transnistrian region of the country.

We would like to remind that in March, under the pretext of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Tiraspol restricted citizens’ movement in the Security Zone by abusively installing "border" checkpoints. Although later calling them "sanitary stations" and withdrawing some of them, there is evidence of their infrastructure enhancement by increasing the staff number, installation of wagons, supply of electricity. 

In October, in Camenca district, armed representatives of the "mgb" abusively entered the area which is under responsibility of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, abducted several citizens, carried out illegal "searches" and intimidated their families, while the Transnistrian Delegation continues to refuse presentation of relevant information to the Commission. At the same time, it tries in different ways to change the focus to other irrelevant topics and even to change the approved format of the discussion. 

In order to unblock the work of the Commission, the Delegation of the Republic of Moldova showed flexibility by agreeing to include the topic proposed by Tiraspol representatives on the meeting agenda, in addition to the issues of illegal checkpoints and abducted citizens. However, the Transnistrian Delegation did not accept this solution either. In the absence of consensus, the agenda was not approved and the meeting was postponed for next Thursday.

Additionally, in accordance with the peacekeeping mission’s acts, the Delegation of the Republic of Moldova informed in writing the participants of the Joint Control Commission on how public order was ensured in the Security Zone localities on November 15, 2020.

Delegation of the Republic of Moldova to the Joint Control Commission