Ukraine-Transnistria border customs conflict

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The Ukraine-Transnistria border customs conflict started on March 3, 2006, when Ukraine imposed new customs regulations on its border with Transnistria by declaring that it will only import goods from Transnistria with documents processed by Moldovan customs offices, as part of the implementation of a joint customs protocol between Ukraine and Moldova on December 30, 2005.^[1] Transnistria has maintained de facto independence from Moldova since 1991, but the state is not internationally recognised.

Transnistria's Minister of Economy, Elena Chernenko, says that Transnistria loses $2-2.5 million daily from the Ukrainian regulations.^[2] Transnistria and Russia have termed the act an "economic blockade", a violation of the 1997 Moscow Memorandum in the part about the right of Transnistria to maintain international relations. Moldova denies that this is a blockade, claiming it has created favorable conditions for the registration of Transnistria-based businesses: to obtain a six-month export license is a simplified, half-hour long procedure.^[3]

Out of the major mediators of the regional conflict, the United States, the European Union and the OSCE approved of the Ukrainian move, while Russia sees it as a form of political pressure, and its Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a statement that said in part: "The Russian Federation as the guarantor country of settlement whose interests are directly affected calls for reviewing the customs regime imposed for Pridnestrovie and for starting immediate consultations among all the parties concerned in order to work out mutually acceptable ways to solve problems".^[4]

On March 4, Tiraspol retaliated by blocking Moldovan and Ukrainian transport at the borders of Transnistria. On March 18 the block was lifted.

On March 10, Russian State Duma reaffirmed Russia's earlier definition of the event as a "blockade", called for return to pre-March 3 status and warned that the event may lead to a "humanitarian disaster". Earlier, Russia promised humanitarian assistance to Transnistria in response to this event.^[5] The Nagorno Karabakh Republic, another unreconized state, similarly blocked by Azerbaijan, also warned for a humanitarian catastrophe in the area. ^[6]

On March 16, Transnistrian delegation refused to participate in conflict negotiations in Odessa without the Russian participation.^[7]

On March 17, Tiraspol warned about a possible suspension of electricity supply to the bordering Odessa Oblast of Ukraine.^[8]

On March 22, Moldova recalled its Ambassador from Russia. It was done in response to Russian Ambassador Nikolay Ryabov's remarks placing "primary responsibility" on Moldova for the conflict^[9]