Moscow-backed enclave in Moldova feels pain from lack of Russian gas

Separately from the gas transit dispute with Ukraine, Russian energy company Gazprom,, opens new tab had said on Dec. 28 that it would stop supplying gas to Moldova on Jan. 1 because of $709 million in unpaid gas debts that Russia says Moldova owes it. Moldova disputes that, and has put the debt at $8.6 million. Jonathan Eyal, international director at the RUSI think tank in London, said Russia's objective was to squeeze Moldova, foment trouble between the central government and Transdniestria, and turn an energy crisis into a political one. He said it was in Moldova's interest to help the separatist region, whose self-declared independence is not recognised by any country and whose people it regards as its own citizens. But it would have to charge for any gas it could send to Transdniestria, and this could fuel further disputes. "There is no question that the government would want to help. The question is whether the separatists will want to accept the help, and whether this could be a prelude to a much bigger tussle instead of being the beginning of a potential cooperative relationship," he said in an interview. "There is no question in my mind that Moscow now is banking on the possibility that the crisis would merely accentuate the separatist movement inside Moldova."