The Moldovan Parliament has repealed tax breaks for businesses from Transnistria

On April 30, the Moldovan Parliament finally approved a bill abolishing tax privileges for entrepreneurs from the unrecognized region of Transnistria. 

Newsmaker reports this, noting that the initiative aims to gradually harmonize customs and tax regimes across the entire country. All funds collected will be directed to the newly created Convergence Fund to finance social and economic projects.

According to the adopted document, the transition period will last until 2030. After that, businesses on the left bank will pay taxes under the same conditions as companies on the right bank of Moldova. It is expected that the full implementation of these measures will provide the state budget with an annual infusion of approximately 3.3 billion lei.

Authorities in Tiraspol have sharply criticized the new measures, claiming they will lead to a worsening of the economic situation and a humanitarian crisis in the region. At the same time, officials in Chisinau emphasize that such measures are a necessary step to ensure fair competition and the integration of the territories. The reform was developed by representatives of the ruling Action and Solidarity Party as part of an overall strategy for economic convergence between both banks of the Dniester.

Russian Ambassador to Moldova Oleg Ozerov stated that Moscow would “protect” Russian citizens in the Transnistrian region “by all available means” in the event of a military or violent resolution of the conflict. 

Prior to this, the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the statements by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu regarding alleged threats to Russian citizens in Transnistria unfounded.

Earlier, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu stated that the situation surrounding Transnistria allegedly resembles the events in Donbas after 2014. He accused Moldova and Ukraine of “pressuring” the region and raised the possibility of Russian intervention.

The Security Service of Ukraine has notified Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, of the charges against him. The criminal is facilitating mass repression in the temporarily occupied territories of our country.

The Moscow City Court ruled that Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s book “How to Kill a Dragon: A Guide for Beginner Revolutionaries” is extremist material.

The Tagansky District Court of Moscow issued a new ruling regarding the sentence of Boris Akunin (real name—Grigory Chkhartishvili). Instead of a general-regime penal colony for part of the term, a strict-regime penal colony has now been assigned—this applies to the additional year in the case regarding the “foreign agent” charge.