The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova condemned the Russian Federation for polluting the Dniester River by adopting a declaration on March 20.
Lawmakers approved the initiative with votes from 53 MPs of the Party of Action and Solidarity, 5 from the “Democratia Acasa” faction, 1 from “Alternativa,” and 4 from Our Party. One unaffiliated MP and 4 communists did not support the draft.
According to the document, Parliament “declares that the Russian Federation is the state responsible for the ecological and humanitarian crisis in the Republic of Moldova, as well as for any potential long-term negative consequences on the health of Moldovan citizens.”
Authorities have maintained a state of alert since March 15 after oil slicks appeared in the Dniester. Officials say Russian bombardments of the Novodnistrovsk Hydropower Plant in Ukraine caused the pollution.
Declaratie Parlament by Realitatea.md
Laboratory analyses detected metals and light petroleum products in the river water, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene – substances typically derived from gasoline or diesel.
Residents of several northern localities, including Balti, were left without running water until March 19, when Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu announced the gradual restoration of supply. He added that tests show pollutant levels within acceptable limits.