Perspectives concerning Moldova's territorial reintegration; expert says reunification can happen through society’s collective refusal to play Russia’s game

The territorial reintegration of Moldova must take place peacefully, through the refusal of the whole society to play Russia’s game. This can only be achieved, if Moldova continues on its chosen path of accession to the European Union and does not respond to provocations, says Daniel Voda, associate expert at the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE). In an exclusive commentary for MOLDPRES, the expert specified that the Transnistrian region was in a precarious economic, political and social situation and the Tiraspol regime is bankrupt.

“Our experience of living together in the 35 years since independence has shown that, on the right bank, we can understand each other, we are a society, we can find a platform for dialogue, and what needs to happen in the near future is that this peaceful, clear and unified reintegration between the banks of the Dniester should take place through our refusal to be part of Russia’s game, by distancing ourselves from this influence. It can only be achieved, if we continue on our path and do not respond to Russia’s provocations, including propaganda and disinformation, which persist in that region,” the expert said.

Daniel Voda emphasized that the Transnistrian region is now in a precarious situation, having been practically abandoned by Russia and by the self-proclaimed regime, which does not think about people, but only about its own survival. The expert suggests that the authorities and the whole society should be more insistent in ensuring free movement between the two banks of the Dniester, noting that even today journalists from the right bank cannot travel freely to Tiraspol.

“Ordinary people see that medical services, jobs, and economic prosperity come from the right bank, come from Chisinau; the solution to the gas crisis was found in Chisinau. In other words, we need to become more vocal, we need to be more insistent with the regime to provide free movement for people, entrepreneurs, journalists, who in the 2026 year still do not have free access to Tiraspol to produce a report, while the regime’s propagandist journalists from Tiraspol can travel unhindered throughout the territory of Moldova.

This bankrupt regime is on its way out, to put it plainly. It is clear that it will not survive, it is not sustainable, it has not managed to convince even its own sponsors that it is viable. This region is not recognized by anyone. Therefore, the only chance for Moldova to reintegrate in one body with the Transnistrian region is to also address the political file, to insist that the region be reintegrated on the basis of the existing legal framework, as an autonomy on the left bank of the Dniester, or on another legal basis that corresponds to the interests of Moldova – never as a federation, never as a structure that can block democratic processes of Moldova,” said Daniel Voda.

At the same time, Voda drew attention to the fact that part of the sovereign territory of Moldova studies, in its history textbooks, a different version of the events of 1992, which is a major problem. The expert advocates for sustained efforts to build trust and to develop programmes dedicated to young generations born after 1992, so that they better understand the realities and consequences of the conflict.

“It is regrettable that this war, which brought so much suffering to Moldova in 1992, remains a subject of national debate. What I mean is that 13 per cent of the sovereign territory of our country is learning, in its history books in the Transnistrian region of Moldova, that the right bank was the invader and was in fact the one that initiated this conflict, which does not correspond to historical truth. In my view, sustained efforts are needed to create trust-building programmes, to explain, to bring closer the young generations who were born during these 34 years since the war, so that we better know the realities that occurred back then,” the expert stressed.

The 1992 Transnistria War showed that the independence and freedom gained by Moldova did not please the Russian Federation, which was interested in maintaining its influence in the region, Daniel Voda says.

“Russia continues to operationalize the consequences of this war, which it created in 1992, by maintaining an occupying army, by supporting a separatist regime that further impoverishes people in the region, by using it as a lever of division between the people on the left and right banks of the Dniester,” the expert underlined.

Voda called for unity and called on the citizens on both banks of the Dniester not to allow themselves to be provoked and divided by Russia’s propaganda messages.

“We are compatriots and citizens of Moldova, on one bank and the other. We are people who must care for one another, whether we speak Romanian and are ethnic Moldovans/Romanians or we are ethnic Russians, Ukrainians,” said Daniel Voda.

On 2 March, Moldova marks the Day of Remembrance and Gratitude. On this day, commemorative events are held in localities across the country in memory of the heroes who fell in the War for Independence and Territorial Integrity of 1992.

In her speech at the Eternity Memorial Complex, President Maia Sandu warned that aggression against Moldova had not disappeared even today. “While in 1992, aggression came with tanks, today it comes through propaganda, manipulation and disinformation. We are living through a real cognitive war, which targets our memory and identity and seeks to confuse the victim with the aggressor,” the head of state said.

Over 30,000 citizens took part in the 1992 Transnistria War, including soldiers, police officers, volunteers and civilians. Approximately 400 people lost their lives and around 1,200 were wounded. The conflict also left people missing, including among the civilian population.