Russia has minimized its military presence in Transnistria — Ambassador Ozerov

The Russian Federation has minimized its military presence in Transnistria, where a peacekeeping operation is being conducted. In addition, our military is forced to guard ammunition depots.

This was stated to the TASS news agency by Russian Ambassador to Moldova Oleg Ozerov, commenting on Chisinau's statements about the "Russian threat" from the territory of Transnistria.

"All these years, the Russian Federation, in accordance with the decisions taken, has been pursuing a policy of reducing its military presence on the left bank of the Dniester. It has been constantly shrinking and is now minimized. Almost all heavy weapons have been removed," the diplomat said.

He stressed that not a single step has been taken by Russia that would cast doubt on the decisions taken at the negotiations on the settlement of the Transnistrian issue.

The ambassador also refuted the statement of Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Rechan, who said that Moscow allegedly plans to send a 10,000-strong military contingent to Transnistria.

Earlier, Rechan said that such plans could allegedly be implemented if the pro-Western Action and Solidarity Party, which controls the parliament and the government of Moldova, loses the September 28 elections.

Earlier, EADaily reported that the leaders of three pro-European parties in Moldova issued warnings about serious threats to the fair counting of votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections on September 28.