DISINFO: Gazprom's new prices for Moldova have nothing to do with politics
SUMMARY
Moldova, another former Soviet republic with European aspirations and dreams of NATO, is at risk of freezing before winter begins.
It is clear that Gazprom is not a charity organisation. No one will conclude a new contract with Moldova without the hope of repaying the debt. Currently, there is a very difficult situation with the supply of Russian gas to Moldova. The blame for this entirely lies with the Moldovan authorities. For some reason, the representatives of Moldova do not want to recognise the accumulated amount of debt. The representatives of Moldova also do not like the price of gas, although the pricing here is clear and transparent.
There are no politics here. Gazprom is a joint stock company and cannot operate at a loss, cannot afford to lose tax payments to the RF budget. There are limits to patience. Moldova is provoking a crisis with its own hands.
RESPONSE
Disinformation about the topic of energy, accompanying a Russian policy of pressure on the Moldova government.
Background:
Gazprom is a Russian state company and was the monopolist supplier of natural gas to Moldova until October 2021. On 25 October 2021, Moldova’s government announced it had bought a million cubic meters of natural gas from Poland after Chisinau failed to agree on a new energy deal with traditional supplier Russia, calling it "the first purchase of gas from alternative sources” in the history of independent Moldova.
Gazprom abruptly increased prices for gas for Moldova. Some experts say Moscow has boosted prices as a reprisal against Moldova for electing pro-Western President Maia Sandu last year.
Pro-Kremlin media Tsargrad described the situation as following: "Let us remind you that Moldova has had a preferential gas agreement since 2008. Such conditions were achieved at one time in the negotiations, including thanks to the political component. Or, to be more precise, only thanks to the political component. However, after the pro-European PAS party came to power in Moldova (now in its hands the posts of president, head of government and speaker of parliament), the accents in foreign policy, to put it mildly, shifted".
Russian state news agency RIA predicts that the absence of a deal with Gazprom may lead to collapse of the pro-European politicians' ratings: "But he [a politologist] expects the parties to work out mutually beneficial terms. Otherwise, the cold winter will be too hard for Moldovans. And then there is no doubt that the ratings of the new pro-European government will collapse".
The "transparent" price of Gazprom's gas varies from one country to another. Thus, the prices for Hungary are two times lower than the proposed prices for Moldova: Hungary signed a 15-year natural gas supply contract with Gazprom. The price at this stage is approximately $350.
See also "The new pro-European government of Moldova introduces censorship on Russian TV channels" and other disinformation cases on Moldova. See "Green energy is a scam, Gazprom is a safer" , The EU gas problems are a result of its fight for “energy independence” and other disinformation cases on Gazprom.