Kiev Suppressing Breakaway Transnistria With Economic Blockade - Lavrov

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Kiev appears to have implemented an economic blockade with neighboring Transnistria and is pushing the breakaway Moldovan region to accept Chisinau's conditions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, at the current stage, Ukraine's role over the last year in efforts in regard to the Transnistria settlement hasn't been as balanced as it should be being a moderator and guarantor [in the conflict]," Lavrov said during a joint press conference in Moscow with Gabonese Foreign Minister Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet.

The Russian foreign minister added that Ukraine "has acted and continues to act in the organization of something similar to an economic blockade to Transnistria" and "is using ultimatums to satisfy those who want the likelihood of Moldova's association with the European Union [to transpire] by making the Transnistrians accept the conditions that Chisinau is putting forward."

Lavrov pointed out that Ukraine and Russia are not only moderators, but also guarantors in the conflict between Chisinau and Tiraspol and that the United States, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are observers.

Transnistria is located between the left bank of Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border with Ukraine. It declared independence from Moldova in 1990. Some 60 percent of its population are Russians and Ukrainians.

In 1992, after after the War of Transnistria, Moldova lost authority in the left bank, and Transnistria was no longer controlled by Chisinau.

While seeking international recognition, Transnistria is designated by Moldova as an autonomy within a single state. Peacekeeping missions maintain stability in the region.