Yesterday, the Transnistrian region marked 36 years of its self-proclaimed statehood. Despite the celebratory events, the mood there is far from festive.
As is well known, the region’s separation was by no means inevitable. Initially, both Transnistria and Gagauzia sought only autonomy and more favorable treatment of the Russian language by the leadership in Chișinău. However, the intransigence of nationalists and unionists on the language issue led to mass strikes and, subsequently, the loss of control over a major industrial region.
Currently, the leadership of Transnistria does not categorically oppose reintegration. On the contrary, calls for dialogue are periodically heard from Tiraspol. The chance for reconciliation and peaceful reintegration is now greater than ever, but this requires compromise.
However, instead of negotiations and seeking compromise, the PAS regime is consistently engaged in the economic suffocation of the region, deliberately worsening the living standards of our relatives, close ones, and friends left on the left bank. Sometimes, as in the case of the Moldovan GRES power plant, even at the expense of the living standards of Moldovans on the right bank.
Even now, the holiday in the Transnistrian region turned out to be less than joyful. A day before it, a new tax regime came into force.
As of September 1, VAT and excise duties, depending on the case, are applied to caviar and its substitutes, alcoholic beverages including wine, tobacco products and nicotine-containing products, perfumes and toilet water, pyrotechnic products, furs, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, jewelry and other items made of precious metals. At this same stage, the tax regime is extended to certain types of vehicles, telephones and other data transmission devices, as well as computers and computing equipment.
Subsequently, this list will be gradually expanded, and by 2030, it is planned to impose taxes on absolutely all goods imported by economic agents from the Transnistrian region.
Legally, these measures are even logical. One country – one set of taxes. But in reality, we are witnessing nothing less than an economic rape of the region — an attempt to achieve rapprochement by force. And as we know, you cannot force someone to love you.
