Bogdan Tsyrdya: “Games of politics can lead to country loss!”

The group of deputies brought an initiative in parliament of Moldova to toughen the punishment for appeals to separatism. It is offered to establish an imprisonment term till 12 years for representatives of parties and non-governmental organizations. And if these appeals led to violence, to increase it till 20 years.
At our request the situation was commented by the known Moldavian political scientist, the director of Social Democratic Institute of Moldova Bogdan Tsyrdya:
- We have the ruling alliance consisting of three parties with different political doctrines and different messages and that the most important different positioning, including, geopolitical. If the Democratic Party considers itself social democratic and tries to play: East — West, so the liberal democrats are the conservatives. And liberal reformers are the unionist party which is standing up for the accession to NATO, for association with Romania.
The bill of punishment toughening for separatism just also was offered by Liberal and Reformatory Party which is the most radical of parties of ruling alliance. It constantly acts with nationalist, radical and, often, it is necessary to recognize, Russophobic statements. Also it does it to unite the electoral potential of those who in Moldova adheres to right radical views. This potential is estimated from 8 to 12−15%.
These initiatives not always should be taken seriously. It is a game of politics. Liberal reformers look for opportunity to prove to be to electorate in any situation. But, unfortunately, this game of politics destabilizes a political situation in Moldova, loosens a situation. And as a result all this can lead to fragmentation of Moldova.
The reason of emergence of an initiative about which we speak, is quite clear — parliamentary elections come nearer. Liberal reformers have now a low rating therefore they try to show very radical behavior somehow to recover their falling and weak rating.
Of course, the geopolitical situation in Ukraine influences also. Withdrawal of the Crimea, problem with Novorossiya and so on … There is also an internal factor: the Dniestr conflict, referendum in Gagauzia. It concerned Gagauzia’s postponed status. The essence is simple: if Moldova changes the geopolitical choice, Gagauzia has the right for self-determination. And on this background the initiative of liberal reformers is formal reaction to a referendum and to a situation in Ukraine. The pro-Russian forces as pro-European and also pro-Romanian became more active. And it is clear that the ruling coalition leaves with initiatives against the pro-Russian policy and the pro-Russian candidates. They try to score points on it.
But I have to say that from my point of view such initiatives conceal serious danger. You know, as it was in Donetsk: after the law on counteraction to separatism with terms in 20−30 years was adopted in Ukraine, many people told that they have nothing else as to take the machine gun in hand. Such can occur in Moldova! God forbid, such will be adopted here— people are radicalized, and they won’t have the way back any more. And here this elite which now simply play, want more privileges, want federation, they can rigidly be radicalized. And such game in accumulation of the political capital can destroy national interests. It is possible to lose the country — that is a problem!
Now in Moldova the subject of Ukraine and separatism is very actively discussed. And that’s it about the law, assuming to toughen punishment for appeals to separatism, they talked for day — two, no more. Then this interest somehow went out. Now the elections in Ukraine are discussed at us, tomorrow — what occurs in Novorossiya, and so on. The agenda changes very quickly.