|
The
speaker of the Transnistrian parliament, Yevgeniy Shevchuk, is already
happy with the outcomes of the constructive actions undertaken by the
Moldovan leadership and the European structures, in order to settle the
Transnistrian conflict and consolidate confidence between the two banks
of Dniestre. Shevchuk has won back the right to freely travel to the
European Union (EU), and now, he has the possibility of addressing
MEPs. But while Shevchuk is going from one European capital city to
another, the situation changes in favour of the executive structures in
Tiraspol.
Till
not so long ago, it seemed that the Obnovlenye (Renewal) party, backed
by the region’s business structures, and the formal leader of which
Shevchuk is, was turning into the most important political force in
Transnistria. The problems raised by Shevchuk and his colleagues at the
official level aroused the admiration of voters in the breakaway
republic. The position of principle on the issue of paying off debts
for the consumption of Russian gas, the proposals that the constitution
should be amended, control over the distribution of the Russian
humanitarian assistance – all these placed the main parliamentary party
on the first place among other political formations of the region in
terms of popularity.
Yet,
lately, things have changed. The issue of gas debt payment has not been
settled completely. The sensational statements made by the speaker at a
news conference held in 2007, during which he accused Smirnov’s clan of
misappropriating money paid for gas by the region’s residents and
enterprises have decayed. Now, Shevchuk no longer raises the concerned
matter. In fact, this would no longer make sense: Oxana Ionova, who is
an ally of Igor Smirnov, was appointed as head of the central bank of
Transnistria. Even if the money from the "family" bank, Gazprombank, is
transferred to the central bank, it anyway could no longer be checked
by Obnovlenye and its sponsors. Finally, it is likely that the true
rulers of Transnistria have reached an agreement, nonetheless, Shevchuk
has lost as politician.
The
situation is almost the same among parties as well. In the second half
of 2007, only few were doubting the fact that, if new parliamentary
polls are held, the Obnovlenye party would repeat the success from
December 2005, after which Igor Smirnov should think of his
„post-presidential” future or at least of passing some of his powers to
the parliament. But resting on one’s laurels has never yielded good
results. In the end, the forces which support Smirnov have consolidated
over the last several months. Namely those whose interests were
jeopardized by the Gazprombank File played a decisive role in the
creation of this bloc. That is the file which has not been carried
through by Shevchuk and his colleagues.
Presently,
the patriotic party led by Marina and Oleg Smirnov, Narodnaya Volya
(People’s Will), whose leader is the former deputy security minister
Oleg Gudymo, the republican party of Vladimir Rilyakov and the
liberal-democrats of Roman Khudyakov are all in the group which is
hostile to the Obnovlenye party. Proryv (Breakthrough), led by an
officer of the Transnistrian special services, Dmitriy Soin, is likely
to join them soon. But even without Proryv, the above parties are able
to take Obnovlenye out of the category of ruling parties to the
opposition one.
Meanwhile,
the Transnistrian official television continues to fulfill the will of
Transnistria’s top leader. While celebrating 9 May, Transnistrians had
the occasion to watch on TV the leaders of the pro-Smirnov forces,
while nobody remembered those from Obnovlenye.
And the U.S.
ambassador, who used to hold meetings only with the parliament speaker,
met Igor Smirnov last week. Thus, the executive authorities started
asserting themselves in the diplomatic area too. Maybe Shevchuk will
manage to compensate this thing through his European ties. But ordinary
Transnistrians watch on their TV screen not the seminars in London or Brussels, but the negotiations in Tiraspol. i. e. Igor Smirnov.
The
more probable the eventuality of the Transnistrian conflict’s
settlement, the more acute the struggle between the forces aspiring to
peace and those seeking to maintain the present situation in the region
becomes. Time will show whether the Transnistrian political groups
interested in the stabilization of the situation are perseverant
enough. These groups will have to make a cardinal political choice,
just like Yevgeniy Shevchuk. There is no third way. The time of
expectation is over.
www.moldpres.md
 |
