Eine Gasabschaltung lässt eine von Russland unterstützte abtrünnige Region erschauern

They got free gas from Russia as they only have a bit crude industry like producing clothing and reselling the electricity produced by the gas to Moldova. But in reality Russia owns the whole area and the businesses there. The free gas is free for now but via a loan and they now owe Russia $4bn – Russia owns itself this. While Moldova owes Russia $0.5bn – or $8m according to themselves. Transnistria is extremely poor. Many live in houses built by USSR. With extremely cheap rent, gas and cold water. You can afford to live there as the housing is that cheap. Even hotels may be some dollars a day. Complexes built cheap with no isolation. And now they don’t even have this as where would they buy gas? They barely could make ends meet on $5000 a year with Russia subsidizing them via these loans. And now they have no subsidy at all yet Russia still shut down private industry there and all is owned by Russian oligarchs. The oligarchs want the electricity they can get to run plants which means housing is soon without it. The football club is so extremely expensive that it shows just how badly the money is spent as lots of people still live in small houses with no running water. They want 2 pensions or more. Russian pension is 3 times higher but is very low. Moldova is not rich themselves and have huge issues too just like Ukraine. Not being able to have modern hospitals. They can’t save Transnistria unless they become part of the country. Only Russia can keep the region afloat. Or EU, but they hate EU and refuse to take EU money because Russian TV tells them EU is the evilest thing on the planet.

The oligarchs who own all industry could make it work. But they don’t care about those people. They all only get Russian state TV so they think Putin us their godfather. They don’t have any free media. If you criticize Putin you will go to prison for years. They think Putin is the protector who is the greatest man who ever lived. They are not quite North Korea of course. But it’s mostly older people and kids. Not an educated and critical population. They are basically just like any other Russians really. Not much different. Which is why EU taking over is impossible as the cultural barrier is extreme.