The Pridnestrovian Representation first appeared in Moscow in 2005. Its functions were then assigned to the Cooperation Center “Pridnestrovie” – a public organization officially registered in the Russian Federation. From the beginning of 2012, the activity of this structure was discontinued, however, there is still need for Republic’s representation. This is confirmed by the numerous appeals of Pridnestrovian citizens residing in Russia. To date, considerable preparatory work has been carried out to start the activities of the Official Representation of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PMR.
In accordance to the Russian legislation, a legal form was chosen as a public organization – the Pridnestrovie Social and Cultural Relations Development Fund. The Official Representation of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in the capital of the Russian Federation has the status of the Pridnestrovian foreign mission, being a structural unit of the diplomatic service of Pridnestrovie. Its tasks include assisting Pridnestrovian residents in building cultural, humanitarian, socio-economic and other ties, maintaining direct contacts with the authorities in Moscow, interacting with civil society organizations, exchanging information, and integrating Pridnestrovian culture into Russia and the world. The diplomatic component of the activities is significant, as well as functions related to the expansion of trade, economic and financial ties, promotion of Pridnestrovian goods and services to the international market.
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky told about opening of the Pridnestrovian Representation in Moscow as about a significant event, fully corresponding to the position of Pridnestrovians expressed at the 2006 popular referendum. He drew attention to the fact that the need for Representation is long overdue, and noted that its relaunch is prescribed by the Development Strategy of the PMR 2019-2026.
The center will become a practical tool to implement individual provisions of the program document, where the international presentation of Pridnestrovie is directly dependent on the nature and level of foreign policy development. Another important aspect reflected in the Strategy-2026 is the creation of a systemic mechanism for working with compatriots living abroad (the PMR Representation in Moscow is intended to become its significant element). Referring to the text of the Strategy, Vadim Krasnoselsky recalled that it formulated the national idea ofPridnestrovie, which is based on three aspects – the striving for independence of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic with subsequent recognition and implementation of the referendum results, strengthening the “Pridnestrovian nation” community and building a society-oriented state with a market economy. The President also spoke about the historical ties linking Russia and Pridnestrovie, as well as about the areas of Pridnestrovian-Russian interaction. These are peacekeeping, politics (Russia is the guarantor in the negotiation process), cultural, educational, humanitarian cooperation, and also the economy (according to Vadim Krasnoselsky, the Russian Federation is a strategic partner of Pridnestrovie). The Head of the Pridnestrovian State also focused on the information component of the interaction. The President of the PMR noted the good awareness of Pridnestrovians about the life of Russia and the insufficient awareness of Russians about the Pridnestrovian realities. In this regard, the President assigns to the Representation a special role. Vadim Krasnoselsky called it a contact center – not only with the citizens of the Russian Federation, but also with representatives of other friendly states.
The Head of Pridnestrovie drew attention to the Head of the Representation. In coordination with the Commission on International Relations, the Supreme Council of the PMR, Leonid Manakov was appointed to this post. He is an experienced jurist, who in the mid-90s headed the Pridnestrovian criminal militia, served as First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the PMR. Leonid Manakov is currently Vice-President of the Russian Lawyers Guild. The President of the PMR handed over the corresponding certificate to the Head of the Representation. Thanking for such an honour, Leonid Manakov called today’s event significant for all Pridnestrovian people and assured that he would make every effort for the productive work of the Representation and the high-quality fulfillment of the tasks set by the country’s leadership.
The representation opening ceremony was attended by Russian politicians, parliamentarians and public figures, representatives of the embassies of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and Pridnestrovians residing in the Russian Federation.
The Representation of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in the capital of the Russian Federation is officially working. It is located in the center of Moscow – Povarskaya Street, 11, office No. 35 (Arbat District). Besides the staff, official meetings and events, including the reception of citizens at this site, will be held during working visits to Moscow by the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, the Head of the Foreign Ministry, representatives of the executive and legislative branches of the Republic.
