Sandu Demands Russian Troop Exit from Transnistria, Sparking Debate

Moldovan President Maia Sandu is leveraging an ongoing diaspora congress in Chisinau to galvanize support for her ruling PAS party, urging compatriots abroad to back her as they did in the last presidential election. Central to her message is a sharp condemnation of Russia for “undermining the world order” and a call for Moldova to prepare for the expulsion of Russian military forces from the breakaway region of Transnistria.

Calls from Chisinau for the withdrawal of the Operational Group of Russian Forces (OGRV) and its peacekeepers are not new. This military presence was established by a 1992 agreement between the presidents of Russia and Moldova, which successfully halted an armed conflict along the Dniester River. That agreement, which established a security zone monitored by Moldovan, Transnistrian, and Russian battalions, has never been formally revoked by any Moldovan leader, including Sandu.

Despite the long-standing peace deal, President Sandu has intensified her rhetoric, warning that the country is in a “dangerous period.” She stated, “We are in a situation where an attempt is being made to re-draw the world order, where attempts are being made to re-draw countries’ borders. We must be ready for the withdrawal of the Russian army from the Republic of Moldova.” Her stark declarations have been characterized by some local media, such as the newspaper ‘Moldavskie Vedomosti,’ as being “equivalent to a declaration of war.”

Political analysts have also voiced criticism, questioning the timing and wisdom of Sandu’s confrontational posture. Analyst Dmitry Chubashenko noted her silence following recent high-level talks between US and Russian officials, suggesting her strong pro-Ukrainian stance has become politically awkward. “The president has chosen a frankly poor time to take a stance that is now tantamount to standing on railway tracks as a train hurtles towards you,” he wrote, arguing that Chisinau has cornered itself by aligning too closely with one geopolitical faction and risks being ignored or eventually targeted by major powers.

In direct contrast to the government’s approach, the MOLDOVENII (“Moldovans”) alliance held a parallel roundtable in Chisinau focused on a peaceful resolution to the Transnistrian issue. General Secretary Victor Marakhovsky described the problem as the “cornerstone” of Moldovan statehood, emphasizing that the nation’s future depends on a successful reintegration strategy.

Interestingly, participants at this roundtable argued that a form of reintegration is already underway. Political scientist Nikolai Tsvyatkov pointed out that 95% of Transnistria’s residents hold Moldovan documents and a significant number have Moldovan driver’s licenses. He asserted that from licensing to trade and freedom of movement, “reintegration has already taken root” in the social and economic spheres, even if political hurdles remain immense.

These political obstacles, according to Tsvyatkov, are rooted in three irreconcilable differences: conflicting historical memory, divergent language policies, and security concerns. A key point of contention is Moldova’s constitutional neutrality, a status he claims the ruling party is undermining through its overtures toward abandoning it. Former Deputy Prime Minister Ion Gutu added that Chisinau’s leadership appears disengaged, noting that President Sandu has not visited Transnistria once in five years, while Tiraspol’s authorities have sent “dozens of appeals” for dialogue.

Political analyst Anatoly Dirun located the problem in ideology, citing a fundamental “difference in values.” He explained that Transnistria’s historical narrative is firmly oriented towards Russia, whereas Moldova remains torn between East and West. At a grassroots level, however, the conflict is barely felt. “People do not feel it in their daily lives,” Dirun stressed, reminding that for many Transnistrians, obtaining Moldovan citizenship is a pragmatic choice for work and travel, not a shift in political loyalty.

In conclusion, Denis Roshka, chairman of the MOLDOVENII alliance, called for a new generation of pragmatic, state-oriented leaders free from personal “phobias.” He argued that fluency in Russian, cultural openness, and a commitment to Moldova’s constitutional unity are essential for any politician serious about resolving the long-standing conflict.