Lawmakers in Moldova’s separatist region of Tiraspol passed a law on Wednesday banning the use of the term ‘Transnistria’, equating it with terms such as ‘fascism’ and ‘Nazism’, with the region’s de facto leader, Vadim Krasnoselski, saying he prefers the Russian term ‘Pridnestrovie’.

The new law, which the authorities in Chisinau have already described as counterproductive, includes provisions for fines and imprisonment, the IPN.md agency reports.

The term “Transnistria” has been transformed from its original meaning of “the territory beyond the Dniester” into a symbol of “hunger, devastation, murder, bloodshed and the Holocaust,” Krasnoleski said, adding that the Russian term “Pridnestrovie” can and should continue to be used.

But while Tiraspol refers to the region as the “Dniester Moldavian Republic” or “Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic”, the authorities in Chisinau call it either the “Transnistrian region” or “the eastern districts of the Republic of Moldova”.

The Chisinau government criticised the Tiraspol initiative as “useless” and “counterproductive in the current regional context”, arguing that the decision would not help bridge the gap between the two sides or speed up the negotiation process.

Regardless of the criticism, the changes are set to take effect in about two weeks.

Under the new law, using the term “Transnistria” in public speeches, publicly displayed works or in the mass media is considered a manifestation of Nazism. Violators could face fines of up to 360 Transnistrian roubles or up to 15 days’ imprisonment. For officials, the fines are doubled, and for legal entities, they exceed 9,000 Transdniestrian roubles.

This decision is seen as a further act of defiance against Chisinau after the Transnistrian authorities celebrated the 34th anniversary of the proclamation of the so-called “Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic” on 2 September by hoisting the flags of the secessionist region and Russia in the capital Tiraspol.

Chisinau, which hopes closer ties with the European Union will facilitate the reintegration of the separatist region into Moldova, has condemned the event as “provocative”.

(Catalina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)

Read more with Euractiv

Spain’s Sánchez announces 2025 budget ‘with progressive DNA’

The Spanish government will present a progressive draft budget for 2025 next week, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE/S&D) announced on Wednesday, asserting that his coalition government will complete the three years left of its mandate amid opposition calls for it to resign.