Vladimir Bukarsky: “The course on entry into the Customs Union is favorable to Moldova!”

The head of the Moldavian branch of Association of the orthodox experts, known historian and political scientist, expert of an information and analytical portal ava. md Vladimir Bukarsky told what occurs today in Moldova and what are the prospects of development of a political situation in the republic.

— What is the present arrangement of political forces in the highest echelons of power of Moldova? What political parties and social movements enjoy the popularity among the population? Who from them is focused on EU and the Eastern Partnership, and who on the Customs Union and Russia?

- Today there are five political forces in the Moldavian parliament (101 deputy places).

Now there is a Coalition of the pro-European board in power in Moldova, the main goal of which is to lead Moldova to signing of the Agreement on European association. This coalition includes two westernized parties — right-centrist Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (the leader is the ex-prime minister Vlad Filat) and centrist, but Democratic Party of Moldova inclining to the right in recent months (the formal leader is the ex-speaker of parliament Marian Lupu, the actual owner and the sponsor of party is the oligarch Vlad Plakhotnyuk), and also the radical westernized and pro-Romanian Liberal and Reformatory Party which has left Liberal party.

In the hands of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (LDPM) (31 places in parliament) there are:

- posts of the prime minister (Yury Lyanke), Ministers of Foreign Affairs (Natalia Gherman, the daughter of the first president Mircea Snegur), Minister of Internal affairs (Doreen Rechan), Minister of Education (Maia Sandu) and some other ministries,

- one of places of the vice speaker of parliament (Liliana Palichowitsch) and a number of places of chairmen of the parliamentary commissions, the main from which is the commission on economy, budget and finance (Vyacheslav Ionitse).

The Democratic Party of Moldova (16 places in parliament) controls:

- Ministries of Economy (Valery Lazer), Ministry of Culture (Monica Babuk) and some other ministries;

- posts of the speaker of parliament (Igor Korman), vice speaker (Adrian Kandu) and number of places of chairmen of the parliamentary commissions.
The Liberal and Reformatory Party (7 places in parliament) controls the Ministry of Defence (Vitaly Marinutsa) and two other ministries and also a post of the vice speaker of parliament (Oleg Bodrug) and a place of the chairman of the parliamentary commission on foreign policy (Anna Gutsu professing the extreme anti-Russian views).

The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova is the largest parliamentary party possessing 34 mandates, supporting the introduction in the Customs Union and being in irreconcilable opposition to the present power. The party leader is the third president of Moldova Vladimir Voronin (73 years old). It is the only party which is at the same time entering both CPU-CPSU and the Party of European Left.

Besides, the parliament is presented by 7 independent deputies who at different times have left Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM). It is possible to distinguish Igor Dodon’s group from them (the party leader of socialists, the ex-Minister of Economy and the ex-mayoral candidate of Kishinev) where the ex-prime minister Zinaida Grechanaya and the deputy Ion Cheban enter. This group the same as communists, supports the Customs Union and is in irreconcilable opposition to authorities in power. On all main questions this group votes together with PCRM. Reunion with Party of Communists is disturbed by only personal hostility to members of this group from PCRM management as to «traitors».

Four more former members of PCRM fraction are Vadim Mishin (in the past one of the top officials of Party of Communists), Oleg Babenko (the rector of Slavic University of Moldova), Tatyana Botnaryuk and Veronika Abramchuk (the former member of group of Igor Dodon, representing one of wings in Party of Socialists) in words support the Customs Union, but in practice on fundamental questions are inclined to support the ruling westernized coalition. In particular, they voted for the statement of the present government of Yury Lyanke created by «Coalition of the pro-European policy».

The right opposition in parliament is represented by Liberal Party (the leader is the ex-speaker of parliament Mihai Ghimpu), whose representation in parliament after an exit of «liberal reformers» decreased from 12 to 5 place. Liberal Party since 2007 controls a post of the mayor of Kishinev — this position is held by Mihai Ghimpu’s 35-year-old nephew, the graduate of the Bucharest University and Sorbonne Doreen Kirtoake. One of the main claims of Liberal Party to the present power is in an insufficient westernized course (LP supports the accession to NATO), insufficient rapprochement with Romania and insufficient confrontation with Russia.

There are radical unparliamentary forces on the left and on the right. On the left — it is Social Democratic Party (leader Victor Shelin), Patriots of Moldova party (leader Mikhail Garbuz) and the movement «Homeland — the Eurasian Union» (leader Igor Tulyantsev), supporting the maximum rapprochement of Moldova with Russia. On the right — the National Liberal party (leader Vitalia Pavlichenko) supporting the immediate association of Moldova with Romania.

There are no aggressive forces as those on the first roles at least. However there are groups of fighters which are not in the forefront but which are capable to participate in violent actions. Headquarters of the majority of them settle down in Romania, in particular the movement «Noua Dreapta» («New right») — lineal ideological heirs of «Iron guard» Korneliu Kodryan. This movement took direct part in disorders on April 7, 2009 in Kishinev, nicknamed as «twitter revolution». Then in the center of Kishinev the presidential palace and the parliament building were taken and crushed.

Certainly, in case of a victory of communists on elections and a country turn towards the Customs Union, «Noua Dreapta» will be in the forefront of the members of putsch like «Right Sector» in Ukraine. It is impossible to exclude, military wings of the Romanian nationalists have training on the same bases of NATO as their Ukrainian colleagues. By the way, Romania is the member of NATO too and the base of alliance is available in its territory.

- What is the general condition of the Moldavian economy? Is the national economy dependence great from the foreign states?

- The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic for 45 post-war years (1945 — 1990) achieved the tremendous growth of economy. From agrarian one Moldova turned into the agrarian-industrial republic with intensively developing industry and power.

For the years of independence, since 1991, the Moldavian economy extremely degraded. Moldova became one of the poorest countries of Europe. First of all, the country completely lost the industrial potential the most part of which was concentrated on the territory of the separated Transnistria. In Moldova many enterprises entering industrial chains with other regions of the former USSR were closed, their areas were converted in shopping centers. Productivity of agrarian sector fell twice. About 1,1 million citizens of Moldova that makes more than 30% of the population, work abroad. About 700 thousand Moldavian workers work in Russia.

According to nominal gross domestic product Moldova takes the 140th place in the world (between Guinea and the Southern Sudan) and the last place among the republics of the former USSR, conceding even to Kyrgyzstan. According to gross domestic product per capita the republic takes the 136th place in the world (between Vietnam and the Solomon Islands) and the 13th place among all republics of the former USSR (the lowest indicators are only at Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). About 30% of the Moldavian gross domestic product is the share of the transfer of labor migrants, first of all from Russia. According to this indicator Moldova is advanced only by Tajikistan among CIS countries at which the share of the means earned abroad, officially makes 50% of gross domestic product.

Basis of the Moldavian export is wine-making and fruit and vegetable production. About 70% of wine-making production of Moldova is exported on the markets of the countries of the Customs Union. However in 2006 Moldova lost to 100% of the Russian wine market owing to wine embargo.

Moldova doesn’t possess fields of mineral resources. From the power point of view Moldova is extremely dependent on supply of the Russian gas. Moldova buys gas at the most expensive price in the CIS — 400 dollars for 1000 cubic meter of gas. For comparison, gas price for Belarus made 162 dollars.

Signing of the Agreement on association with EU by Moldova doesn’t solve any of problems of the Moldavian economy but only aggravates them. In fact, it is the enslaving contract for Moldova. According to this contract, Moldova has to open completely the market for the European goods within 15 years. Thus the accurate and constant quotas of export of the production to the European Union countries make a reservation for Moldova. The agreement on European association finally finishes the last remains of the Moldavian industry — this time in agrarian sector. Granting of a visa-free regime with EU countries to Moldova will lead to even bigger outflow of labor from the country.

On the other hand, the entry of Moldova in the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan is favorable to the country in all respects:

1) It becomes an important step to the solution of the main problem of the country — to settlement of the Dniestr conflict;

2) It will allow to reduce sharply the gas price for Moldova that will well affect the industry restoration and decrease in municipal tariffs;

3) It will allow the Moldavian producers to take firm positions in the Russian market;

4) It will create conditions for work of the Moldavian labor migrants in Russia.

— How do the conducting political forces of Moldova estimate the referendum results in Gagauzia? Is the holding of a similar referendum possible in all Moldova?

- The referendum which has passed in Gagauzia was supported completely by all opposition forces of the left flank, including leading force — Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova. The Gagauzian referendum was supported also by other left forces — Party of Socialists, Party of Regions of Moldova, Social Democratic Party, Patriots of Moldova party, Homeland — Eurasian Union party.

On the other hand, holding of Gagauzian referendum was flayed by the power of Moldova, including all parties of ruling coalition (Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, Democratic Party of Moldova, Liberal and Reformatory Party), and also the right-wing opposition Liberal Party.

It is remarkable that the local office of Democratic Party of Moldova in Gagauzia’s territory supported the holding of a referendum. After holding a referendum some members of DPM in Gagauzia, including the speaker of parliament (Gagauzia's People’s assembly) Dmitry Konstantinov, were expelled from party. Thus, DPM lost the majority in People’s assembly which he possessed before holding the Gagauzian referendum.

In Gagauzia territory there are four political forces now:

- Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova; bashkan team (head of an autonomy) Mikhail Formuzal heading the Party of Regions of Moldova; the team of Nikolay Dudoglo who is the mayor of the capital of the region — Komrat city, and heading local office of Democratic Party of Moldova; group of the politicians excluded from DPM, including the chairman of People’s assembly Dmitry Konstantinov.

— How do the last aggressive statements of the Romanian management estimated?

-The majority of political forces of Moldova, both in the power and in opposition condemned the last statements of the president of Romania Traian Basescu for association with Moldova as to the main national task for Romania. In particular, the prime minister of Moldova Yury Lyanke representing the right-centrist Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, declared that Basescu’s statement «does harm of European integration of the country» which, according to the head of the Moldavian government, is possible with preservation of the sovereignty of Moldova.

The same opinion was expressed also by the chairman of the parliament of Moldova Igor Korman (Democratic Party of Moldova). At the same time, according to Korman, he realizes that Basescu’s statements have pre-election character, and can’t do much harm to the bilateral Moldavian-Romanian relations. «Romania remains the important partner of Moldova, and even Traian Basescu’s statements for need of association of two countries don’t sadden the relations of two countries», — the speaker of parliament of Moldova declared during one of press conferences.

Acting in the center of the Gagauzian autonomy Komrat and convincing Gagauz people not to be afraid the unionist aspirations of Bucharest, Igor Korman declared that statements of the Romanian president are not perceive seriously neither in the world community, nor in the Romania. Making comments on these words of the speaker of the Moldavian parliament, the ambassador of Romania in Moldova Marius Lazurke declared that Korman «made a mistake» and «showed tactlessness»: «The head of state of the European Union should be taken seriously to the state which counts on support of all member states of EU especially neighboring states. They need to take seriously all that the president of the state — EU member speaks».

According to the mayor of Komrat and the head of local office of DPM at the same time Nikolay Dudoglo, owing to such statements of the Romanian guide of Gagauzia insists on the postponed status: «We consider that the statement of the president Basescu is a threat to peaceful co-existence of two states — Moldova and Romania. Moldova took place as the state 23 years ago, and it is allowed to nobody to tell about the need of its elimination. The whole years Gagauzia and its people supported the sovereignty of Moldova, and we are ready to defend it from such, as Basescu, any ways up to barricades».

Leaders of two left-wing parties — Party of Regions of Moldova (Mikhail Formuzal) and Social Democratic Party (Victor Shelin) urged the country leaders to declare Traian Basescu the persona non grata in Moldova. The Social Democratic Party, besides, demands from the Prosecutor General’s Office of Moldova to bring criminal case upon infringement of the country sovereignty.

The party leader of socialists of the Republic of Moldova Igor Dodon last year called Traian Basescu as «desperate person», «lame duck»: «His mandate expires, and he will disgracefully leave the Romanian policy. His statements — it is the ridiculous efforts sent on keeping in public attention center».

— What are the ways of impact on the Moldavian society as a whole, and political forces, in particular, of the western non-governmental structures?

- The western structures, since 90th years, actively influence the decision-making process in Moldova. In particular, in 1992 the Soros Fund representation was opened in Moldova. Other American fund «Eurasia» realizes the program of giving the grants by means of the «open doors» mechanism. According to the Russian analyst Vitaly Zhuravlyov, the western non-governmental organizations operating in Moldova and receiving financial and methodological help from them the Moldavian NGO directly influences the adoption of administrative decisions in political process.

So, in April, 2007 «independent report» of 13 Moldavian NGO was published, among which Soros-Moldova fund, Association of democracy of participation of ADEPT, Association of the independent press, the Independent center of journalism, Contact (The national center for support and informing of public organizations of the Republic of Moldova «Contact»), Expert-Grup, IDIS-Viitorul and others in which it is offered to EU to include the Dniestr question in the bilateral agenda of negotiations with the Russian Federation. The report also contains the offers for EU to convince Ukraine to enter restrictions on movement of leaders of Transnistria in the territory, and also to forbid the Dniestr leaders to have accounts in the Ukrainian banks.

Besides, the Moldavian NGO considers that the European Union has to conclude the agreement with Moldova and Russia about replacement of the Russian peacekeepers in the region on the police contingent under the auspices of E. U. This agreement, on their opinion, can automatically cancel the Moldavian-Russian agreement of 1992 on ceasefire owing to which the Russian peacekeepers were entered into the region. In the document also it is noted that EU and the USA have to join in mediation process in settlement of the Dniestr conflict as full members.

In February, 2006 some NGO of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine developed own tripartite plan of Dniestr settlement. It is offered to expand a format of negotiations «5+2» (Moldova, Transnistria, Russia, Ukraine, OSCE plus the observers from the USA and the European Union) to eight full participants, having included Romania in it. The plan of settlement assumes the refusal of Moldova of neutrality and its accession to NATO. The plan is developed with financial support of the Soros fund, Vozrozhdeniye fund in Ukraine and Fund of Open society of Romania.

A number of programs are financed directly by the U. S. Government. Now in Moldova the U. S. Government Academic, Professional, and Cultural Exchange Program is realized. The program is annually financed by the Congress of the USA through Bureau concerning education and culture of U. S. State Department worldwide on the basis of Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 and FREEDOM Support Act united in Foreign Relations Authorization Act from 1992−1993. The Embassy of the USA in Kishinev or directly directs these programs in Moldova, or through the authorized organizations. These programs are aimed, first of all, at formation of intellectual elite of the Moldavian society in the spirit of loyalty to policy of the USA and the western values.

Even more indicative is cooperation of National Academy of Sciences of Moldova with NATO. In the mid-nineties the staff of the Kishinev Institute of Physics as a part of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Moldova directly got paid from NATO on the average of 500 dollars that was considered as solid money at that time in Moldova and worked over its programs and projects. Now the agreement between the Republic of Moldova and NATO management is reached upon modernization of military institute for training of officers for military department. The cost of the project makes 20 million euro.

So multidimensional activity of the western NGO in Moldova, the Moldavian NGO getting the western grants, the Moldavian mass media focused on the western sources of financing and political support, presence of the western programs and projects in the state organizations, business structures and higher educational institutions is explained, certainly, not only by their own activity.

The western NGO financed directly by U. S. State Department, took the most active part in putsch on April 7, 2009 in the center of Kishinev. As the American analyst Daniel McAdams notes, on a site of one of the main NGO which was engaged in preparation of putsch, Hyde Park Organization, in the bottom of the page, near the coat of arms of the USA, is openly specified: «This site is placed in a network free of charge within the «Internet Access and Training Program» IATP, Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs, ECA, the U. S. State Department, the campaign created with support «Freedom Support Act, FSA)».

On a site of Agency of the International Development of the USA it is possible to see the information that the American government through a number of the intermediary organizations, such as the International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute, transfer huge amounts of money for carrying out of programs in Moldova with such captivating names as «Strengthening Democratic Political Activism in Moldova, SPA». The agency is proud of that this program «promotes appearance of new political activists who can formulate and achieve implementation of specific political goals». We will notice that the National democratic institute of the USA has communications with one of «moderate» opposition parties, whose leaders took the most active part in the Kishinev events — Democratic Party of Moldova.

The Lithuanian newspaper Respublika openly wrote about participation of the Soros Fund in financing to «April revolution» in Kishinev, referring thus to revelations of the employee of Soros — Moldova fund Denis Chenushe who in all details told to the Lithuanian correspondent «how his friends from other non-governmental organizations organized the first protest action on Monday». Chenushe didn’t hide that the representatives of the Soros Fund «constantly keep in contact with other non-governmental organizations, informal movements and together with them develop the plans of holding actions of disobedience».

The Soros Moldova Fund is engaged in the same in the country, than in other former Soviet republics — financing of the edition of newspapers, payment of grants, the edition of books of a certain orientation. All Moldavian mass media financed by the Soros fund are considerably pro-Romanian. It is remarkable that literally the next day after night of the suppression of putsch the Moldavian branch of the Soros fund, together with other NGO, held a press conference in INFOTAG agency at which accused the authorities of Moldova in «mass brainwash, compromises of participants of peace protests», «intimidation of opposition and civil society».

The leader of PCRM, the ex-president of Moldova Vladimir Voronin on air of TV program of «Policy» called the main thing, in his opinion, the organizer of April putsch — it is Alex Grigoryevs, the citizen of Latvia and the USA who in 2005 — 2009 was the director of office of National Democratic Institute in Moldova. Grigoryevs was detained by the Moldavian police on suspicion in the organization of disorders and he was released with a condition of departure from the country. Later representatives of NDI, including Grigoryevs, were found in Azerbaijan where they were accused of the disorders organization.

According to the statement of a number of the experts, one of authors of crisis in Ukraine was the same Alex Grigoryevs who directs noncommercial projects on democracy advance in Ukraine, appearing with interview in the Ukrainian print.

During the visit to the USA in February, 2014 of the speaker of parliament of Moldova Igor Korman and his meeting with senator John McCain the arrangement was reached on activity renewal the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Moldova run by McCain. The vice-president of the International Republican Institute Judy Van Rest declared renewal of activity of Institute in Moldova since April, 2014 «with the new projects directed on assistance to strengthening of potential of a state policy which would support the government in further movement on the European way». During the same visit to the USA Korman met the chairman of National Democratic Institute (NDI) Kenneth Wollack.

- How the Russian-speaking population of Moldova lives?

- According to population census of 2004, in the territory of Moldova (apart from Transnistria) Moldavians — 75,8%, Ukrainians — 8,4%, Russian — 5,9%, Gagauz people — 4,4%, Romanians — 2,2%, Bulgarians — 1,9%, others and not indicated — 1,4% inhabitants of the country live.

Russian language was called as the native by 11,3% of all respondents. From total number of inhabitants of the country 75,2% usually speak the Moldavian language (or Romanian), 16,0% — the Russian, 3,8% — the Ukrainian, 3,1% — Gagauz language and 1,1% — Bulgarian. Thus, the share of the Russian-speaking in Moldova (16%) almost by 3 times exceeds a share of ethnic Russians in this country (5,9%). However, having considering the role of the Russian language as means of international communication, the share of the non Moldavian population using the Russian makes 22% of the population.

The greatest share of the Russian-speaking population lives in the cities and districts: in the city districts of Kishinev, in the city of the country second for number — Beltsy, in the Gagauz autonomy and ethnically Bulgarian Tarakliysky area, and also in other regions of the North and the South of Moldova. In the territory of Moldova there are many old believe villages which have arisen here in the XVIII century, that is even before accession of Bessarabia to the Russian Empire. The vast majority of the Russian-speaking population votes on elections for the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova.

The ethnocratic regime in Moldova since first years of independence was softer than similar regimes in the countries of the Baltic States. In Moldova «zero option» was adapted in a nationality question: it provided all who were constantly living in the territory of Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic by the time of disintegration of the Soviet Union. However for all 90th and 2000th years the gradual process of de-Russification of Moldova was and proceeds still.

Firstly, it is connected with country deindustrialization. The Russian-speaking population of Moldova, as a rule, lived in the cities and worked in the industry sphere. The Moldavian population lived in rural areas. As a result of sharp falling of production the considerable part of the Russian-speaking population left the country.

Secondly, there was a process of an urbanization of the Moldavian population that is the moving of ethnic Moldavians from villages to the cities, in the majority to Kishinev. Besides, the structure of the Kishinev municipality included a number of neighboring villages. As a result the share of the Russian-speaking population of the Moldavian capital sharply fell.

Thirdly, the purposeful policy of the Moldavian authorities in education and TV and radio broadcasting led to that in the country the whole generation of the people who are badly owning or not knowing the Russian language not so grew. At the same time the number of the young Russian-speaking people, masterfully using the Moldavian language, grows.

Existence of not settled conflict in Transnistria interferes with carrying out tough ethnocratic policy on a Baltic sample. In the territory of the Gagauz autonomy formed in 1994 by the agreement between the leadership of Moldova and self-proclaimed Gagauz republic, three official languages — Moldavian, Russian and Gagauz function.

At the time of declaration of independence of Moldova the Russian language possessed the real (but legally not fixed) status of the second state language, but legally had the lowest status of language of international communication (this status under pressure of Russian-speaking communists nevertheless managed to fix in 1989, before collapse of the USSR). It prevailed among urban population of Moldova and absolutely dominated in such major spheres as science and equipment, the industry, health care, military science, courts, medicine, theater and cinema, informatics.

Functioning of the Russian language which more than a half of the population of Moldova masterfully uses, is regulated by «law on functioning of languages in the territory of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic» of 1989, i. e. the law adopted before declaration of independence of the Republic of Moldova. The law on functioning of languages claims that the Russian is official language in the territory of the USSR, i. e. not existing state. That is legal status of the Russian language in Moldova still isn’t defined. All 23 years of independence of Moldova the power evaded from the solution of a question on the legal status of the Russian in the republic in every possible way.

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova of 1994 (Art. 13, item 2), «state recognizes and protects the right for preservation, development and functioning of the Russian language and other languages used in the territory of the country». After coming of communists to the power in 2001, promising the state status to the Russian, the law «About the Rights of the Persons Belonging to Ethnic Minorities, and Legal Status of Their Organizations» was adopted. This law guarantees the right of education of all levels in the Moldavian and Russian languages. Representatives of ethnic minorities have the right to address in public establishments in an oral and written form in the Moldavian and Russian languages and to receive the answer in address language. The state provides the publication of regulations, official statements and other information of national value in two languages.

In 2003 the Concept of national policy of the Republic of Moldova was accepted in which the name «uniform polycultural and multilingual people of the Republic of Moldova» appears, the need «to create real opportunities in order that the Russian-Moldavian bilingualism became reality» is emphasized, conditions for preservation and further development of functions of the Russian are provided.

However in practice even at the power of Party of Communists (2001 — 2009) the same policy of infringement of the Russian-speaking population and turning of a coverage of the Russian proceeded. So, in 2004 in structure of the Ministry of Public Education and Youth the Management concerning formation of ethnic minorities was liquidated. And after all practically all training of national minorities was carried out in the Russian and national languages. The department status on the interethnic relations was lowered to bureau level. In 2006 the Code of television existing nowadays and radio according to which not less than 65% of television broadcasting production have to be issued in a state language was adopted, and by 2010 this indicator had to increase to 80%.

For all these years the state policy on education reduction in the Russian language was consistently pursued. The number of comprehensive schools with the Russian language of training was reduced more than twice. Teaching of the Russian is reduced to a minimum. On the basis of departmental directives the million volumes of literature in the Russian, including Pushkin’s works, Dostoyevsky, Gorky, Sholokhov, other Russians and the Soviet classics, including living and creating in the territory of Moldova were withdrawn from library stocks. The situation with providing the Russian schools with educational and methodical materials became aggravated to a limit.

More than 280 Russian lyceums and gymnasiums and 82 Moldavian-Russian schools that makes more than a quarter of average educational institutions (24,34% of schools, gymnasiums and lyceums) operate on a right bank of Moldova for the present. 42 schools with the Russian of training and 15 Moldavian-Russians schools (about 16% of total number) function in Kishinev. 3 drama theaters work with repertoire in the Russian. 3 specialized lyceums with teaching Russian (theatrical, musical and art) function. Now total number of teachers of the Russian language and literature at schools, lyceums and gymnasiums while keeps steadily at the level of 1710 people. It shows that on the average 58 children are the share of one teacher. For comparison, 94 pupils are the share of one teacher of the Moldavian language (they are about 4130) on the average, and this number tends to reduction.

We will note that the new leadership of Moldova, since 2009, pursues the policy of «optimization» of schools. The Russian schools where the number of pupils is less than in Moldavian become the victims of such policy, first of all.